Don't Label School Supplies: Try This Time-Saving Back-to-School Hack From a Teacher School/Education Parenting Education Kids

I have kids ranging from first grade through sixth grade this year. Between the three of them, they have a lot of school supplies that need labeling – and that can take a lot of time! As a mom and a classroom teacher myself, I can tell you that labeling school supplies is important when it comes to items being lost or misplaced in the classroom. Labeling items helps everything make it back to the correct owner. However, a name on everything isn't always necessary.

One time-saving back-to-school trick I have learned is to washi, not label, everything. If you haven't heard of washi tape yet, you will want to go pick some up ASAP. Here's what you need to do:

• Have each child pick out a washi tape roll with a unique design.

• You and your kids (yes, kids of all ages can help with this!) start personalizing the supplies with the washi tape.

On larger items or on the front of packages of things like crayons, you should still add their names. But for small things like pencils, the tape and a small logo (my daughter likes a heart) will do the trick.

Kids will easily know which supplies are theirs (and their classmates will, too), just by looking at them. Any hack that saves me time as both a mom and a teacher is welcomed!

What back-to-school hacks do you use? Share them in the comments section below!

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get inspiration in your newsfeed daily. Inspire and be inspired.