It’s back to school time and I can barely believe it! The shelves of Target are changing from all things summer and fun to school supplies. It’s time to say goodbye to the carefree summer days. With school starting up soon, that means our days will be filled with more routine and less spontaneity. Honestly though, I think we are all kind of ready for it. One of the hardest things with getting back into the groove are the mornings. Mornings are hectic but I’ve found some ways to make them smoother for my 3 kiddos.
5 hacks to make school mornings easier ::
Visual checklist and calendar :: Go over the expectations of the morning with your kids and then have the list printed out. Wake up, go to the bathroom, brush teeth, put on uniform; etc. Having everyone on the same page so to speak, makes the transition from lazy summer mornings a bit smoother. A weekly calendar also helps everyone out, including my husband! A visual of the week ahead also calm anxieties with little ones.
Backpacks ready by the door :: Instead of spending time running around in the morning looking for the missing piece of homework; have everything packed away the night before. Textbooks, laptops, pencil cases and everything in between needs to be bagged up and ready to go before bed time. This includes clothes for PE and/or after school activities as well. Ball practice after school? Have that duffel bag packed and ready!
Make lunches the night before :: My kids bring their lunch 90% of the time to school. I’ve gotten into routine throughout the years to make their lunches the night before. This is one of the simplest things to do after the kids go to sleep. Bonus tip :: if your kids enjoy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; get a sandwich sealer and make multiple sandwiches for the week and freeze them!
Lay out clothes :: I have closet organizers in my kids closets that have been a game changer and has made for smoother mornings. I fill each cubby the night before with what they will need the next day. Uniforms, underwear, socks, belts, etc; it’s all laid out for them. And don’t forget about the shoes!
Breakfast time, kids serve themselves :: As much as I wish I was the Mom making pancakes every morning from scratch, that is not the reality in our home. I always have easy options that are quick to prepare and are things my kids will actually eat. Cereal and milk, instant oatmeal and breakfast burritos are crowd pleasers on school mornings. On Sundays we try to make an egg scramble with some protein (cheese, sausage, bacon, etc.) that is easy to eat on it’s own or to put on toast or in a tortilla. These are all simple things my kids can do themselves which is a big win.
