Tried & Tested: Tips for Easing the Back to School Rush and Creating a Family Routine That Works
The holidays are over and children around Australia are now back to school and weekly routines. This includes my girls and with Nawal now in high school and Neve in primary school, we’re having to adjust to two entirely different schedules.
To try and ease the craziness of the back to school rush, I thought I’d share the tips that work for my family in the hopes that they might work for yours too. For us, these habits help us to stay on top of school work and after school activities whilst also making sure we have plenty of time for family and fun.
What works for us:
- Bags Packed and Ready To Go!
I always make sure the girls have their bags packed and school clothes ready the night before. This stops us from frantically searching for missing items the next morning as we rush out the door to make it to school in time.
Also make sure that your kids have everything need for their before/after school activities.
Sunday Night Movie Night
On Sundays, after the girls have packed their school bags and made sure all of their school things are ready, it’s time for our weekly movie night!
This is a special O’Neil family tradition that the girls love. Each Sunday we grab the popcorn, choose a movie and snuggle up on the couch to watch a movie before bed. We start the movie quite early (around 6:30pm) to ensure the girls get plenty of sleep before the busy week ahead.Create a Schedule and Make Sure Everyone Knows What’s On
Our calendar always seems to be full. Whether it’s after school activities, school presentations or weekend birthday parties, there is always something happening.
In order to avoid missing important events or overscheduling, I create a family calendar which I then share with the whole family. If your kids have iPhones or iPads for school, sharing your calendar amongst the family is super simple as you can set up notifications and reminders and everyone knows who’s doing what.
We use the iCloud calendar for easy sharing – but you could also use Google Calendar and sync it across devices using an app or sharing the calendar via email.
Alternatively, get a family calendar to hang somewhere everyone will see it. The fridge tends to be our go-to place for sticking important reminders! I love this Monthly Dry Erase Calendar from Etsy which you can print, laminate and stick on the fridge.
Back to School Flashback
I can't get over how much Nawal and Neve have grown and changed over the years! How lucky am I!
