Back to School Hacks for Busy Moms

Family mornings just got a lot busier and there’s no doubt many of us struggle to get back into the morning school routine. So, for the week that’s in it, here are some great ideas you can adopt to save you and your family time (and stress!).

Let’s start with clothes… who hasn’t experienced not being able to find something and running around your home in a frenzy looking for it? And why does this always seem to happen when you’re already running late?! Well, this can happen to anyone and is even more likely to happen when children are involved. However, there is a simple thing you can do to make sure you always have whatever you need… First, invest in medium-sized storage baskets – one for each day of the week. Involve your child (or children) by urging them to get creative and design labels for each school day. Then, dedicate some time over the weekend to gather all the clothes your child will need for the entire school week – from socks and shoes to hats and hair ties – and store them together in the appropriate basket. In the morning, everything your child needs will be in the same place.

Another hack that makes a huge difference timewise is developing a lunch and snack plan. Dedicate some time to prepare for the entire week in advance. Sit down and plan out each meal and snack for your kid’s lunch box. Why not treat this as a fun family activity by including your children? It’s an easy opportunity to do something together as well as an activity that will teach them organization skills. It can also be especially helpful if your child is a picky eater as they are involved in the process and feel as if they have more input. Once you have your list, it’s time to shop for what you need. Make sure you buy everything as fresh as possible. Chop the veggies and fruit and store in reusable lunch boxes so they are ready to be grabbed as you leave for school. Don’t forget to store them in the correct order to avoid any waste. Having all the lunches and snacks ready to go will save you a lot of time throughout the week. You’re welcome!

The final back-to-school hack may require a little more space… but if you can manage it, it’ll be so worth it! Why not designate a low shelf (or, depending on how many children you have, an entire cupboard!) close to the front door to become your child’s backpack station. Whether leaving in the morning or returning in the afternoon, all school things have a definite home. This allows for easy and quick access to school books, bags, and stationary. While you’re at it, why not store things for after-school activities like sports and music here too! You can make the most of this space by adding hooks to the door for jackets or hats – just make sure to make them low enough for little hands to snatch. If you have more than one child, invest in some inexpensive storage baskets for each child and give them the responsibility of managing the safe storage of their school things. The benefits? Faster exits in the morning, no stressing or panicking, and a tidier, more organized home.   

Good Luck!