Help me stay organised this school term

[MrsMorse]

Looking for tips to stay on top of 3 children at (2) different schools, lots of pets, house, cars etc etc all the while working full time in a demanding and long hours job. God knows I should be an expert by now as we’ve been doing this for a while - eldest is going in to yr 7 - but seriously feel like we skip back a little more each term!

get a family wall planner like this (which starts as the academic year starts in september). give each person their own column, and ensure that when they plan something with their friends/get a letter home about a trip etc they write it on the calendar straight away, or it doesn't happen.

have the school bags packed the night before for everyone, and place them at the front door, with coats on top and shoes beside them. easy to grab in the morning.

all the best x

We use the TimeTree app. DP and I both have it on our phones and we colour code all entries so that we can see who has what on each day. If it's not in TimeTree it's not happening! If your kids are old enough to have phones get them to download it too and take some responsibility for their own arrangements. It has actually changed my life and I wasn't hugely disorganised to start with

Thank you. We’ve tried a hard copy planner but it just doesn’t seem to get filled in. Have tried an app but it wasn’t very user friendly so will have a look at this one. Think we need to do things when we first get the letter for example - rather than leaving it til later. And meal plan more! I know it all, just overwhelming when you have it all to do and no energy to do it! Last term nearly killed me off I think!

I have a blackboard with what is needed each day of the week, sports kit, swimming kit etc and it's both packed and put in the car the night before. Buy multiple of kit if necessary (and possible) so you aren't having to do emergency washes. Plan meals around the schedule, so pizza on the day you only have a 45 min turn around between school and activity. Plan your own outfits, hair wash days etc so you don't give yourself extra tasks on the busiest days. Delegate stuff to the kids ds as age appropriate. There's no easy way, just ruthless organisation.

i have yr 8, yr 7 and yr 3, so I feel your pain.

One thing I’ve just done ahead of next week is buy toaster bags; I plan to make ‘cheese sandwiches’ in the evening, place in sandwich bags in a lunch box in the fridge; then the children or I can grab them and put into toaster. The kids can then (hopefully) eat them leisurely but if we’re running late they can eat them en route to the bus stop.

Packed lunches always done night before, too much to do in the morning.

I’d also give yourself/yourselves a bit of lee-way; I get up deliberately 10 mins earlier than I need, so I can have a calm coffee and make sure I’m not ok against it time-wise

A calendar on the wall is really helpful for us as the kids now add things to it and can chalk at a glance.

One thing that helps me a lot is dealing with all the school paperwork on the day I receive it. I’m also trying to make the kids do homework on the day they receive it.

Pack bags the night before

Wash uniforms on Friday night.

I HIGHLY recommend a weekly Sunday night meeting where you all (ALL) sit down with individual planners, phones, wall calendar whatever and just go through the week ahead.

Despite using online calendars, we would inevitably end up having conversations about 'Oh, but who's taking you home?' and 'that shoebox project is due in on Weds' and 'Oh, no, that work dinner got cancelled' and it feels so good to have that conversation before it is desperately urgent!

I will also quickly send texts during the family meeting confirming play dates or asking for lifts or whatever. The kids gradually learn that nothing happens by magic.

I was going to suggest the Timetree app too. I tried so many calendar apps before but this one is amazing and it's changed our lives. You can attach photos to events so I take a photo of school letters and attach it to the relevant date for trips etc.

1. Do everything possible evening before - lunches, PE kits, clean uniform etc

1. Ask for help it's not all your job

When you unpack the school bag, and there is a letter requiring money and/or your signature, fill it in immediately and put it in DC's bag to give to teacher tomorrow. Tell them that you have done this, and they will remember when they see other children handing things in!
Check out your school's website on the first day back (and thereafter at regular intervals!). Write down non uniform/fancy dress/bring in a cake etc days in your diary, with a reminder for the week before.
Get your DC to take some responsibility for themselves. I don't think, for example, that most Year 7s should need reminding about which books to take to school once they have settled in. They can also ask you to fill in forms etc as and when necessary.

Following with interest. Does the TimeTree app work across iPhones and Samsung? Mix of both in our family so hoping the answer is yes as sounds promising!

Can you put reoccurring events in like Gymnastics every Tues from x date to y date for example?

1. I pack lunch boxes and set out breakfast, uniforms/shoes/fresh socks & underwear the night before.
2. Remove lunch boxes and drink bottle on arrival from school.
3. Wash uniforms friday evening.
4. Take a photo of any letters received with appointments or important information as soon as I get it.
5. Put all appointments and school holiday dates in my calendar.

Deal with all notes immediately.
Keep envelopes and spare change both at the door and in the car!
Wall calendar - our school is fab and has already told us dates fr trips, photos and discos and we aren't even back yet!
Meal plan for the month stuck on the fridge - right next to the chore chart and the timetable for each child.
TOMM for cleaning :)