It’s hard to believe that another school year is about to start!
Soon, the lazy summer days will need to become structured school days. And with that structure comes a school day morning routine.
Even if your family has their back to school routine down pat, I’m sure there are still areas you can improve upon.
These ten time-saving hacks for your back-to-school routine will make your school day mornings run smoother than ever before.
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Organize Closets
One of the easiest ways to make your school mornings easier is to plan your child’s clothing the night (or week) before.
Here’s how:
- Add a hanging closet organizer in their closet and use each shelf to hold an outfit for each day of the week.
- Label the shelves for each day of the week so your child knows exactly which outfit to grab each day.
You can have your kid’s entire week of clothing picked out in one evening, leaving you a little more time each morning.
Lunch Prep
If your kids bring their lunch to school each day, packing their lunches the night before is a simple way to make the mornings a little easier.
But if you prefer to pack lunches in the morning, make the process go more smoothly by creating a lunch station in your fridge and pantry.
Add a organizing container to your pantry with common lunchbox items like chips and crackers, and reserve a section on a fridge shelf for refrigerated items like juice boxes and string cheese.
Creating this lunch prep station will allow you to easily grab and go, making lunchbox prep a breeze each morning.
Drop Zone
Creating a space in your house where your kids can drop their school stuff when they get home is an easy way to keep school items organized.
Add some hooks to the wall next to your door to hang backpacks and coats, then place a box on the floor or use a storage bin for each child to store other items.
In addition to keeping your home a little more organized, a drop zone will also make mornings run more smoothly because your kids will know exactly where their school items are each day.
Breakfast Prep
Having a few breakfast options ready to go is a great idea for busy mornings.
Overnight oats or frozen breakfast sandwiches are perfect for mornings when you just don’t have enough time to prepare breakfast.
Be sure to keep these on hand or some healthy breakfast bars as grab-and-go items for those hectic mornings.
Eat Breakfast First
While it may be tempting to have your kids get ready to go before heading to the kitchen for breakfast, remember that kids are messy! You may spend more time cleaning them up after breakfast than you would like to admit.
Consider making breakfast your child’s first priority. That way, if they spill their milk on their pajamas while they’re eating, it’s no big deal!
After breakfast is over, send them to the bathroom to wash up and brush their teen. Then help them get dressed and off to school.
Post a Schedule
Having a regular morning routine is the easiest way to keep your kids on track on school days.
Make sure they know exactly what they need to do throughout the morning by creating a schedule and posting it where everyone can see – like on the refrigerator.
To make things super easy for your kids to follow, place the schedule in a plastic page protector and let them use a dry erase marker to cross items off the list as they complete them.
Use An App
If you prefer using your phone, add a scheduling app (like Cozi or Fammle) to make sure you stay on track each morning.
Use the app to set alerts as the morning goes on to be sure you get everything accomplished and don’t forget anything as you head out the door.
Offer Rewards
Incentives are a great way to get your kids moving in the morning.
While the rewards and tactics you use may depend on your their personality, offering incentives for getting out the door on time is an easy way to keep your kids on task each morning.
Make morning routines fun by making your kid’s routine a race or simply offer them something they want for getting through the morning without any issues each day.
Take Care of You First
It’s hard to focus on getting your kids ready when you’re rushing to finish your own morning routine.
So, whether you wake up before the kids to get yourself ready or hurry off to get yourself ready while they eat breakfast, make sure you have everything you need to head out the door before attempting to get the kids ready to go.
Final Checklist
No matter how may hacks you implement during your morning routine, sometimes things slip through the cracks. Keep a checklist of must-have items by the door and do a daily double-check before you head out for the day.
