Organizing for Back To School
How to set up an organized morning routine.
Parents everywhere get their kids ready to go back to school every August. Here are some ways to lesson the stress of the new morning routine.
Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: It's Monday morning and not only are you late for work, but your daughter is crying because her lunch isn't made, she can't find her backpack, and your son's homework is lying somewhere under your bed. Maybe. And then you see that they just missed the bus. Yikes. Don't you wish you could be more organized in the morning?
There's no doubt that swinging back into the school year routine creates havoc for many families, but there are many easy ways to lesson the effects of going back to school. A little pre-planning and some organization can make it well, not effortless, but less stressful at any rate!
First off we need to plan out our mornings. In many families, especially with younger children, madness reigns and you're lucky if you get out the door on time with everything you need. How do we stop this?
It's important to spend time the night before prepping for the morning. Make sure all lunches are made, bookbags are prepacked with homework, lunch money, gym clothes, and everything else your kids need to get out the door is, well, by the door. And don't leave yourself out either- charge your cell phone, make your own lunch, and spend some time getting your stuff together. You can also make a list of everything your kids need and make them start getting their own stuff together. If they need soccer stuff on Tuesdays, or ballet shoes on Fridays, write that down. Involve them in the prep stage!
Getting up early (no groaning here) is really going to pay off big for a sane morning routine. If you can get up before everyone else in the home you can take a shower, get dressed, and start on that first cup of coffee before the troops wake up. Not only will it save you time later as you're getting everyone else rounded up, but it's also great to have that alone time to plan out your day.
Getting everyone dressed in the morning can be a major hassle, especially with younger kids. Plan outfits on Sunday nights and put each complete outfit in a hanging canvas shoe cubby that is labeled with each day of the week. If you allow your child to pick out what they want to wear they're more likely to want to wear it. Make sure they have everything they need in that days cubby, from underwear to socks to jeans to shirts. All they have to do is pull out that days clothes and they'll be ready to go!
Keep a supply of emergency breakfast items on hand for mornings that are complete meltdowns (and they will happen to even the most organized parent). Anything that can be grabbed and eaten in the car will work. Keep these items in a special bin in the pantry and make sure it's clearly labeled so your kids can find it. Breakfast bars, applesauce cups, almonds, cracker packets, juice boxes, any of these will work fine.
Remember, back to school doesn't have to mean a breakdown for you. A little preplanning will go a long way in making sure your mornings are relaxed and pleasant!
