With back to school fast approaching, it's important to focus on getting kids to do things for themselves. These simple tips will make it easy for kids to pack their own lunches, get ready in the morning and prepare for the day's activites, all stress-free!

1. Pack lunches the night before with handy lunch baskets for kids to choose the items for their lunches on their own. Snacks can be divided so kids can pack their own balanced lunch and the lunch gear to pack it in.

2. Make getting ready simple and fight-free by using a clothing cubby with outfits laid out  for the week, including activity clothes as well (art day/gym class, etc.).

3. Get everyone out of the house with a lot less yelling and reminding with a simple yet effective checklist for each member of the family – take a vitamin, brush your teeth, brush your hair, pack your lunch, put your shoes on, pack your homework, and make sure you have your phone, keys, forms and more. Some ways to make a checklist: use photo frames or mini white boards, and use incentives for finishing the checklist such as the home Wifi password for a reward.

4. Organizing all the gear for kid's activities can feel like an Olympic event for parents on a daily basis. A sports station can house everything from soccer balls to ballet slippers in the house or the garage. Organizing sports gear means no more looking for a lost cleat or missing hockey sock. Examples of a sports station: a rack or hanging cubby (or a wireframe cubby) with sport bags, jerseys and equipment.

5. Sleep and hydration make every member of the family happier, healthier, and ready for the day. To get the best sleep, turn all electronic devices off an hour before bedtime, grown-ups too. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children who leave electronics on at night are more likely to fall asleep in school. Plus, the concentrated amount of light from devices passes through the retina into a part of the hypothalamus (the area of the brain that controls several sleep activities) and delays the release of the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin (WebMD). As for staying hydrated, mark a water bottle with timed lines on how much water you should to drink by that time to ensure each member of the family is well-rested and hydrated.