Come one, come all . . . .

[TickTockBaby]

. . . . With your veteran school run mum tips, experiences, 'hacks' if you will.

My DD is starting school in a few weeks, and whilst I think we're prepared materials wise, uniforms etc, I feel quite unsure with the details.

School gate etiquette?
Tips to make mornings smoother?
Drop off and collection experiences?
Should I send her with a snack? Money?

Any help much appreciated.

From a clearly clueless new starters mum.

YABU to post this here. Have it moved to Parenting.

Posted for traffic. Thanks for taking the time 👍

No need for money or snacks maybe a water bottle but school should let you know as Covid means changes from the norm.
Best tips for morning, don't rush, have shoes and book bags at the ready. Keep everything as calm as possible.
Everything else you ask can't be easily answered as Covid rules, means normal drop offs and pick up etc likely to be different.

Get husband or au pair to do it.
I managed to avoid it altogether.

@LongPauseNoReply

YABU to post this here. Have it moved to Parenting.

I completely agree with @LongPauseNoReply.

There are 16 topics in the Parenting forum with replies today (14 August) and yet you need MORE traffic...?

Thank you @quodvox,
Do children go straight into school or is there playtime before hand?

We have received a very informative pack from the school with general info re COVID changes but just want to try and fill some gaps in my overall knowledge. 🙂

Ahh my very first viper biscuit. Thank you

@Finfintytint 😂

Tips to make things smoother:

Have everything ready night before, uniform, PE kit, bag etc. (And your own stuff too)

No electronics/tv/iPad rule in the morning.

Up, breakfast, dressed, teeth then free time if there is any.

Coming home, uniform off, shoes and bag in a certain place, always check bag for notes etc.

Have a snack and drink ready when you collect from school as children usually hungry and thirsty.

Enjoy the freedom

Should add our school no book bags at the moment. No PE kits. Water bottle is the only thing allowed in from home. School uniform washed after every wear (not sure how they know...)
Re playing before school, probably not (again due to Covid).
Try not to worry, it will be really obvious when you arrive, and plenty of parents will be in the same position as you
Just don't be late, as it will cause so much more stress all round!

School gate etiquette? If you have to ask..

Tips to make mornings smoother? Get up earlier. Seriously that encompasses 90% of it. People should just get up earlier so they don't have to dash down the road and end up horrendously parking across a driveway because "I'll only be five mins".

Drop off and collection experiences? See above. If people were just considerate and stopped worrying about their perceived pecking order in the collection process, jockeying for the most public space opposite the gates..

Should I send her with a snack? Money? No.

@nubeejinnings
Excellent idea about returning things to a specific place once back home. She has a habit of removing her coat and shoes as she progresses through the house once home. Meaning shoes can end up any where.

@JuniperFather luckily we will be walking to school, so your parking comments are not applicable.
I have no idea what your "if you have to ask" or your "pecking order" comment are about.

Some people are being extra twatty this morning eh?

My DD4 started Reception last year so I'm far from an expert. I found the whole process incredibly daunting, especially with a newborn baby to deal with too.

I found putting things like the PE/Forest School kit in the car (if you drive) the night before really helped.
Everything else (book bag, shoes, coats, gloves etc) lined up by the front door ready to grab as you're leaving.
Brush teeth and have breakfast before getting dressed as you can guarantee they will spill food or toothpaste down their uniform otherwise.
I always brushed and plaited DDs hair as she ate her breakfast to save time.
I sent a snack every day for the first week thinking we were supposed to until I got a Post It home in the bookbag telling me off, so wouldn't recommend it.
I'm VERY introverted but made a real effort to speak to at least one person at drop off/pick up for the first few weeks. It's much easier at the start of term as you're all in the same boat as parents of new starters.
I second the snack at pick up time - my DD was always absolutely ravenous.

You'll soon settle into a routine of your own. Good luck!

@namechangetheworld fantastic tips! Hair brushing has always been a battle for us and I can't believe I've never considered doing it whilst she is distracted with breakfast.

I've always been one for being 'ready for the day' before we come downstairs, so typically washed, teeth brushed, dressed and hair done. Hadn't considered the potential for breakfast messing up her uniforms so that's really helpful too.

I also have a 13 week DS so keen to make the mornings smooth for all of us.

I'm also an introvert and keen to avoid the school gate politics. We are in a relatively small village so I had worried that there would be preformed mum groups.

Thanks for all the helpful input so far. 👍

Good grief, some people seem to have got out the wrong side of the bed this morning!

I wrote a thread this morning, with regards to an elderly neighbour I am worried about, I put it in Chat for the traffic..
Perhaps I should have put it in the 'elderly neighbours' topic board 🙄

Sorry op, it's been a few years since I did any of this, so not much help I'm afraid, at least you've had some sensible replies.....

@RedElephants

Good grief, some people seem to have got out the wrong side of the bed this morning!

I wrote a thread this morning, with regards to an elderly neighbour I am worried about, I put it in Chat for the traffic..
Perhaps I should have put it in the 'elderly neighbours' topic board 🙄

Sorry op, it's been a few years since I did any of this, so not much help I'm afraid, at least you've had some sensible replies.....

"Chat" doesn't have a premise inherent in the title of the forum.

"AIBU' does.

Hope that helps for next time.

Snacks must depend on the school. We do have to send them in (‘healthy snacks only’, so you send an apple and then get grumbled at that so-and-so got Hula Hoops )

School gate conversation pretty limited these days of 2m apart, but there’s often a WhatsApp group.

@JuniperFather has my post personally affronted you? You seem to be investing a lot of time into it with nothing particularly useful to say. Please do bugger off.

Thank you for the input @GoldenOmber. I think I maybe finding it all even more difficult to navigate with COVID and the resulting changes to the norm.

Ours were back this week. Main Covid-related issues have been which doors to drop them off at, warnings to not hang around on the playground/not enter the playground (depending on age of child), and sending them in PE kit on PE days, except with jogging bottoms rather than shorts because they’ll stay in it all day. Has been a bit of a tangle as everyone gets used to it but it seems to have gone okay so far.

Not much to add to others but if you do send a snack make sure it is nut-free, some schools provide fruit at break times for ks1 so you may not need to send anything.

Label EVERY piece of uniform, including p.e kits as it's very easy for things to get lost or taken accidently by another child. Don't use a washable pen as I did once

No need to send her with any money, but do keep spare change in your purse as they often need 50p or £1 for X charity event or after school bake sale. (Maybe not so much now in Covid times!)

Buy headlice and threadworm treatment to keep for when you need it. And you will...

@GoldenOmber

Snacks must depend on the school. We do have to send them in (‘healthy snacks only’, so you send an apple and then get grumbled at that so-and-so got Hula Hoops )

School gate conversation pretty limited these days of 2m apart, but there’s often a WhatsApp group.

Yes, and it’s called MUMSnet. However, you are still permitted to post. More is the pity.

Messed up my quotes. Sorry golden it was aimed at the ever charming juniperfather

Join the year groups WhatsApp or Facebook group. Then all the organised parents will remind you that 'tomorrow is pirate dress up day, don't forget' and you'll have an hour to source or make a pirate outfit. Which while its stressful is also more helpful then getting to school and seeing all the pirates while your kid is in uniform.
Just say hi to people and don't worry too much about who's in what mum gang. I don't think we even have any groups at my school, people have just formed their own friendships as times gone on.
Label everything! If ion reception they will get a snack at school. As someone else said deffo have change handy for the any charity/bake sale things that occur. Though in these days that may not happen for a while.
Also world book day is every March. I recommend getting a costume roundabout now. Otherwise you'll forget that too and the kid in uniform scenario will be repeated as above.