New school year is right around the corner. Many schools have already started. We have another two weeks to go before our kids are back at school. It is not easy to get them back into the groove of things, and get back into our daily routines. Getting up in the morning is a struggle. In order to make my life easier, our morning calmer and attempting to be overall a bit more organized, we follow the same evening routine every day. Here are a few things that make our mornings easier.
Back to School Evening Routine
School Work Before Play Time
The first part of our back to school evening routine actually starts right after school. We have a checklist on our fridge that lists all of my kids homework and activities. Before they are allowed to turn on the TV or video game, all of the work written on the checklist has to be completed. Some of the things on the checklist include simple stuff, like bringing their lunchboxes from their school bags to the kitchen, or putting their agendas on the kitchen table to be signed. But then, come the important things like going over all homework assignment and deciding which one to complete first. Getting to work and completing the task before moving on to the next subject or assignment. The bottom line – all the work has to be done before the kids are allowed any typo of free time to read or play.
Making Lunches the Night Before
Another part of our evening routine is making lunches for the next day. My kids are very picky eaters, therefore I make sure to involve them into making their lunches. They get to choose their fruit and vegetables, what goes on their sandwiches, and whether they prefer a salad or some leftovers from dinner. Having them involved in making lunches, make them appreciate the effort that goes into putting them together, and most of the time, makes them eat their lunches in full.
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Packing Their Backpack and Placing Them by the Door
Another thing we do the night before as a part of back to school evening routine is pack up the kids backpacks. Things like assignments, notebooks, permission slips, agendas, and any other work that needs to be brought to school the next day is all packed up and ready to go before the children go to change into their pajamas and go to sleep. All we have to do in the morning, is put their lunchboxes into the backpack, their water bottles into the side pockets and they’re ready to go.
Laying Out the Clothes for the Next Day
The last thing we do as a part of our evening routine, in order to make our mornings much easier and relaxed, is set the children’s clothes out on their chairs for the next day. We look at the Weather Network first, to see what the weather will be like in the morning. Then my kids go to their closets and pick out their outfits for the next day. That way there is no struggle in the morning and no indecisiveness as to what to wear. Whatever they have chosen to wear the night before they will be wearing to school that day. No changing their minds, no going through the closets, no fuss.
Stress-Free Mornings…
We have been following these four rules since our children started preschool. Right now they have become a routine, and my kids do them without thinking twice about them. September is always the hardest. After two months off, even I have a hard time getting back into the swing of things. But by mid October, this routine is once again engraved in us all and we love it! We don’t run around in the morning figuring out what we are going to wear, what we’re going to take for lunch, or where are those papers that we signed (or even worse – didn’t sign) the night before. All of that has been done the previous evening. We all make an effort to ensure that all of these things are checked off. It’s not easy. And the kids need reminders quiet often, but in the end it is all worth it.
What About You?
Do you have a back to school evening routine that makes your household run smoothly in the morning and helps your life less stressful? I’m always on the lookout to improve my life, so I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Thanks for sharing all of your tips! Picking out clothes the night before school is very helpful as for less hassles in the morning
These are great tips!
Lauren
My daughter is very well organised, everything is ready night before, but my son is the opposite, he stress in the morning running like headless chicken looking for his stuff. But I can’t really blame him, I am the worse organised mother in the world, my daughter send me reminders of what should i do.
Such great tips! I’ll have to remember this when mine become school aged.
I remember has a child we didn’t have a set routine and I truly wish we did because I think not only would I have felt more accomplished but it would have been easier on my parents. Hopefully I will learn from that and set great boundaries and schedules with my kiddos once they are ready for school!
We pretty much follow these same ideas and things go mostly smoothly. I couldn’t imagine trying to get us all out the door for daycare/school/work without evening prep!
Perfect tips to make it easier to manage time.I still don’t have any kids at their school age yet. This post will definitely help me in the future once my toddler is ready for school
I don’t have a little one at school yet, but I’ll remember these tips for next year! Great post.
Going back to school is such a stressful, especially finding back our routine!
Our daughter is still in daycare, but its just as important to have an evening routine for us. It usually involves dinner, some outdoor play time (if its nice), bath, books and bed.
You’re just like me! We used to have that as well when our kids were small. The routines changed somewhat since then, but the bottom line is, they are still in place and the kids know exactly what to expect each night.
I love the idea of making lunches the night before. Mine are in college or one is two — but I still prep the snack bags for the toddler the night before so it’s ne less thing to do while trying to get out of the house. College kids are on their own lol
I think I’ll stop making their lunches when they go to college too 🙂
These are some great tips I’ll definitely be trying, thanks!
Pick and choose what works for you and your family 🙂
Its so true, if you’ll be prepared beforehand…it will definitely make the morning stress free and relaxed. thanks for sharing this post.
This year I’m hoping to get lunches all done the night before and I think getting the kids involved is a great idea. My kids are picky eaters too and I think this will help.
I found getting them involved in making their own lunches very effective. Mind you, at first it took me a little longer than normal, but in the end, it was constructive / quality time spent with my kids 🙂
This is so great. Prepping everything at night, even if it’s just my husband’s work clothes. makes the morning so much easier.
Funny you mention your husband’s clothes. I do that with my clothes too. So much faster than deciding what to wear in the morning 🙂
I really think the key to making mornings less stressful is laying out clothes the night before and packing lunch lol. I totally agree. Sometimes its best to pack up the bookbag before bed and put in the car too. That way nothing is forgotton including the bag.
You’re a step ahead of me with putting the book bag in the car! My kids take a bus, so we put our bags right by the door 🙂
I totally agree! Doing work in the evening saves chaos in the morning! Great post!
you’re right! It definitely makes the morning MUCH less chaotic!
It’s funny how important routine is. Us adults need it just as much as kids do to make everything run more smoothly. My daughter isn’t in school yet but we have our own systems in place just to keep some sanity around our house.
I couldn’t agree more. We too, had routines with our kids since they were babies. The routines change a bit as they get older, but I find that we all like the consistency and predictability of a routine. It makes our lives so much easier 🙂
I have two going to school and they have different times which helps and hurts. One is self sufficient so I don’t have to worry about her but my little one I need to stay on top of. We do pick out clothes the night before and alternate shower’s between mornings or at night. Last year she left before lunch so since she has lunch there we will see what works best for when we make it. She is very excited so that makes it very manageable because she will remind me of what I forget. She only forgets to brush her teeth or hair while we are waiting on the bus, lol.
Sounds like you have everything well under control 🙂 Your little one sounds like a responsible little girl. As for teeth brushing… I know exactly what you mean… My kids are great with it in the evening, but mornings are a totally different story, lol
My son is only in prek but I also pack lunch the night before and try to lay out his clothes. I like your idea of having them help make the lunch.
My little one is a very picky eater and I find that when I involve him in making his lunch, he is much better at actually eating everything we packed for him.