Routines for an organised mum who's child is starting school and

[MrsSifB]

Hi

I have an 4 year old who will be starting school in September, I work 4 days a week and currently we are constantly late, rushing around etc to get her to nursery, us both to work etc So please help! Does anyone have a similar working situation and any tried and tested routines or tips that I can use for when my DD starts school that will make us more organised? Even down to when laundry and food shopping is done. I need to start from scratch as it's just not working at the moment!

Thanks

Hi op. I remember this struggle well. Start with getting everything ready the night before. I do this down to putting bags in the car unless something needs to be put in them in the morning. Otherwise put them blocking the front door so you can't forget them.
If you are working 4 days a week you need to do your food shopping on your non working day. Religiously buy everything for the days in between so you're not high and dry. I buy uht milk - not everyone's taste but lifesaver imo!

Also plan your morning routine. We get up and have breakfast straight away. I get the dds dressed next (clothes out the night before) and they go downstairs and put their shoes on. At this point they can sit and watch telly for a bit while I get ready in peace. All our stuff is packed so they only things I'm putting in my bag are phone and make up bag. Work out the set time you must leave by.

If you are struggling add 30 minutes for a bit and get up 30 minutes earlier until you get the routine drilled down.

You need to move this to chat x

Everyone dressed before breakfast. Reduces faffing time. Use tea towels to mop up spillages.
Are you dropping child off at school or at pre school and after school childcare? This makes a huge difference.
Work out when you’re going to do reading/spellings (5 minutes around breakfast works for us).
Even if your child has been in long nursery days, don’t underestimate the knackeredness of the first term at school.
Online shopping, definitely.
Don’t aim for pick up and drop off time if you’re habitually late; aim for five minutes before. You don’t want to be that parent.

Absolutely agree with everything ready the night before. EVERYTHING!!! A 10 second job in the evening miraculously becomes a 10 minute panic in the mornings. For both you and your DD. Down to underwear chosen and laid out. Everything packed in bags etc.
The single biggest eye opener for us was breakfast. DS used to get breakfast in nursery so we literally could wake him 5 mins before we left ... dressed & go. School is so different..... we’ve discovered that he does not like to eat just after he’s woken up.... sometimes needs 10-15 minutes to ‘come round’. The one time I tried to ‘rush’ him he threw up in the car .... So, you may need to factor in a longer breakfast time.
I am fully ready to go ( showered, dressed, make up on ) before I wake him for breakfast..... try not to rush breakfast ( hard!) ... and he gets into his uniform very last thing ( reduces chances of stains / mess etc)
Good luck!! It seems daunting but you’ll be in a routine in no time.

Re the laundry buy 5 sets of uniform if you can or at least the pinafores. They get food in their clothes every single day. Or Flour or paint. I have a conversation with myself every night while dinner is on about whether I need to put the machine on for anything. I do most days.
My evening routine goes - get in oven on food in, washing? Packing for the next day, tea time, reading, bed.

Factor in which days your child needs a bath too

I can wholeheartedly recommend using breakfast club if the school runs one and you can afford it. Dd has been at holiday club for the last couple of weeks and the disruption that having to feed her at home causes cannot be underestimated.

It's a while since mine were at primary school but I agree about being organised in advance. I would organise everything for the week ahead on a Sunday evening including planning who would do pick ups and drop offs, any evening activities etc with DH.

Whilst DH did bath time I would sort out uniforms, PE kit, homwork, etc etc. 10 hooks (one per child for each day) with a drawstring bag on each peg. Everything needed for that day on the peg then each evening empty the peg into book bag and straight into the car.

DS2 didn't like eating when he got up either so i found having some snacky type breakfasts (cereal bars, ready prepped fruit, cartons of juice etc) handy so they could be eaten in the car was useful.

A five drawer storage unit in the bedroom, one for each day, uniform put in on a sunday night along including underwear everything, anything else in there as well, guides uniform, dance stuff. Label them with days of the week and DD will learn quickly what day to go to.

Bags packed and beside the door the night before.

I get up first and get ready, everyone dressed before breakfast and downstairs, once we are down they don't go back up because then they get lost in playing and messing. Extra set of toothbrushes and paste in the downstairs toilet and brush etc so after breakfast teeth and hair can be done before we run out the door.

Yy to not letting them back upstairs. My two can play on the iPads or watch tv for the 20 minutes while I get ready - going in their room and getting toys out is not an option!