Editable After School Checklist

This perfect after school checklist will give your routine a template to make each day a little more organized (thereby making the morning routine easier too!).

Hello. My name is Hilary and I am the mother of a new Kindergartener.  She is adorable, but we have Kindergarten ALL day and when she comes home you’d think she’s run a marathon, and she’s now Cleopatra.  If I knew how to peel grapes,and was willing to cut a palm frond off — you can guess what I’d be doing for her after school snack.

2020 ETA: She’s now in 5th grade and I couldn’t be happier that creating this checklist has been a great tool to help her be a little bit more organized during the school year. Emphasis on “a little bit”. 🙂

Suffice it to say that her brother (in 5th grade) isn’t much better.  They walk in the door and literally EXPLODE with school-ness.  I’m left asking, and asking, and asking.  Will you PLEASE put your things away?  Until today.   Enter my After School Checklist. I see lamination in its future {ps, I LOVE this laminator}

Before we get into the checklist — if After School Routines are something you struggle with (because I do, and it is something I have REALLY worked on) — I have a whole section on what to do after school in Family Routines.  You can join for just a month or a whole year, you can cancel at any time!  The price is great, and I guarantee you’ll like it!

After School Routine Checklist

This isn’t brain surgery people.  It’s just a mom wanting her kids to not leave a trail of items everywhere they walk once they enter the front door. So, I left it editable in case you have different needs.

By getting into an organized routine of doing these things, your kids (and thereby, you) will have a smoother afternoon after a long school day!)

Things to do after school:

Put Backpack Away — Having a designated spot for your child’s book bag helps a LOT! Bonus points if it’s on the floor they enter the house (I just find that is more doable for my kids) — but we still use our rooms. Go the extra mile kids!

Put Away Jacket/Coat — It is just SUCH a great habit to get into, put things where they go — touch them once!

Get out homework folder/give adults important papers — I hate the morning “can you sign this” routine — so much eaiser to look over documents in the evening! I have an inbox on my desk where I have the kids put things.

Put away lunchbox — once again, touch things once. Just make sure you have a spot for their lunch bag to go. That’s your part. 🙂

Do Homework — Remember, homework is their job. Be sure to have a spot in the kitchen/office/desk for them to do it!

Get Homework checked — if you do this (I don’t — I glance, but I don’t check each problem). I am not the teacher.

Put school clothes away — if you do this, my kids don’t put on play clothes (but I can see that as being important if your school uses uniforms) — btw, I have a post on how many clothes kids need to have.

Get a healthy snack — My kids are always STARVING when they get home, so be sure to put this where it makes sense for your family!

Make lunch ready for tomorrow — Honestly, I can’t imagine this happening, but having their lunch box ready for the next day would be great!

Of course, kids should then move on to other chores, practicing instruments, etc. All of that is editable in the checklist template!

Want to know more about some routines:

• Signs You’re Parenting Out of Fear
• School Essentials Checklist for Mom
• Organize Your Life One Week at a Time
• Getting Your Family to Help Out More
• Summer Activities for Kids

A reminder for perfect moms:

Note: Your child is NOT going to do this perfectly every day, especially if it’s a new routine. The idea is to get them into a routine where they are mostly doing these things. I don’t do my life perfectly every time, but I try. Hopefully our kids are trying too. 🙂

This printable checklist is a great way to help them remember all the things they have to do, and teach them responsibility. It’s just creating, simple good habits. 🙂

Editable After School Checklist

It’s nothing fancy.  Having clear expectations was most important to me. I don’t need her being caught up in how cute it is, although I may let her color it before I laminate it.  Easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy. {pfft, as if it was that easy}

What are your best tips for a smoother afternoon transition?  I could REALLY use them about now! Also, if you’re looking for some help with just the after-school basics, be sure to check out my Children’s Tasks checklist!

What does our after school routine chart look like?

Honestly, the schedule really dictates the schedule.

I usually allow for 1/2 hour for snacks and unpacking the lunch/backpack.  But after that, it’s off to clean up her room, get her jobs done, get on homework.

And then, it’s free time.  I really try not to deliniate too much what they have to do WHEN because sometimes they just need some cooling off (literally here — it’s still like 106 in the afternoons in September).

FAQ’s:

Q: Do you print off an afterschool routine for each day?

A: I actually laminate mine and have my kids use a dry erase marker. It’s a simple way to get the most use out of it.

Q: Do you tie screen time to finishing the chore chart?

A: There is “free” time and they can use that however they wish.

Don’t miss my Children’s Daily Task Checklist which you might find really handy as well!

Interested in more after school posts?  Don’t miss my after school cookies post to cheer your kids on to finish their checklist, and don’t miss my before school routine:

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