As the school summer holidays draw to a close its back to school we go. Over the summer many of us have lost our regular routines and now its time to kick-start them again.
Back to making those dreaded pack lunches and being super organised with the kids.
Mine go back today and I am really hoping they come back with a list of dates for throughout the year. I don’t know about you but we have numerous mufti days, dressing up days, school discos and bring something into school days plus not forgetting the dreaded school photograph days and if I don’t write all these down I will forget. On top of this there is the school trips and payment plans that also need to be added in you don’t want to be that parent that the school have to chase for money on a regular basis.
I use a wall planner and have a colour code for each of mine and then also repeat this information into my phone calendar with numerous alerts.
Then don’t forget the endless bits of paper they will come home with to make all the paperwork easier I have created a system of plastic folders that I keep in a box folder in my office.
One for each of them which allows me to keep any special achievement awards and certificates as well as important letter and grade cards. Then I scan into the computer any of their artwork that I would like to keep but I don’t want hanging off my fridge.
Getting younger children organised in the morning
If you have younger children leave a get ready for school chart in their bedrooms so you don’t have to keep asking them to do things in the morning rush. I used to find that this really helped me when my were younger as they used to be proud that they had finished their list of morning jobs to do:
- Come down for breakfast
- Brush teeth and have a wash
- Get dressed
- PJ’s away tidy
- Pack school bag
- Don’t forget your lunch Box
- Shoes and coat by 8.20am
Small lists/charts like this can really help take the strain off so its definitely something I recommend you try.
Uniform
By now I bet this is all labelled and ready to go. A nice fresh clean PE kit all ready, bright white polo shirts and non scuffed shoes. Photos of this perfection will be displayed all over our social media this week but how long does this last.
If you’re a busy working mum makes sure you have 5 sets of school uniform so if you don’t get time to do washing in the week you know that your child will always be going into school looking neat and smart
Invest in some Ace for whites to keep those white shirts and polo t-shirt looking good.
Have your Scuff polish to hand
Pack Lunch ideas
Love it or hate it we have to feed our kids when they are at school. Schools dinners aren’t everyone’s idea of a good meal although saying that they have come on a long way over the years. Mine actually like a pack lunch. The girls sort themselves out these days I give them the options and they make a healthy sensible snack but I still like to do Jake’s. His more than capable but it’s me having the need to a spotless kitchen all the time.
A few simple ideas I have for mixing the lunches up a bit. I like to keep my colourful to keep them interested too.
Sandwich swap
Tuna pasta. Sweetcorn, mayo, wholemeal pasta and tuna served cold. Fried rice with spring onions, soya sauce and bacon serve cold. Cheese and Apple. – Grate hard cheese with grated apple add a drop of lemon and mayo for a cracker topping.
Snack ideas
You can use snack pots here, prepare and label one for each day of the week)
- Carrot and cumber sticks and hummous
- Fruit salad
- Fruit kebab
- Popcorn
- Olives
- Crackers
- Sultanas
- pumpkins seeds
- Yogurt drops
- Home made flap jacks
I also find when they back to school planning ahead your weekly meals really does help too. I have created a FREE printable to download CLICK HERE plus you can also follow my 4 week simple meal plan by clicking HERE
Homework
Give it a week or two and this will start flooding in. I like to know what homework mine have and try to be involved as much as I can. Plan some time in your routine for homework support even if it’s just 30 minutes a week and dedicate this time to your child without any distractions. I have always encouraged mine to do their homework downstairs and not in their rooms and I created a little homework station where they can find everything they need from stationary to a clear work space. I have always believed that doing homework in a messy and congested bedroom can’t be good for their learning.
Encourage your child to have a few educational apps on their tablet too
Try to keep your school routine so that everyone in the house follows it too. A few days of knowing when to leave and when to do homework is all it takes for it to start be the normal. If it helps make pack lunches the night before and hang school uniform out ready in bedrooms with polished shoes by the door.
Your 5 Minute Challenge is easily doable in the morning before the school run. You don’t need to do every room but set yourself a goal to at least do one room. Set your timer and go go. You may also find that my daily Cleaning Calendar will keep you on top to.
Enjoy the first week back and thank you for reading
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxox
