Tips for being more organized come September...

[Cuddler]

Hi!

As i have said on other threads my son is starting primary school in September this year.We were planning on home educating autonomously,and so far our life has been one long holiday(mostly!)no bedtimes,no strict rules and not much organization needed at all!

Obviously everything is going to change in September and i dont want it to be too much of a shock (for all of us)so i was wndering if i could ask you for tips on how to introduce some rhythm and organization into our lives!I also have a 3 yr old a 2 yr old and another due the end of september,so its time to get sorted!

TIA.

I've got through 6 years of primary school without needing too much in the way of routine.

I work shifts though, so we live life accordingly, and that means some flexibility on bed times, dinner times, activities, etc etc.

how old is your DS - is he 4 or older - if he is older then perhaps an activity in the summer where he has to get there for a set time would be helpful
if he is 4 - then really its about you imposing a bit more structure - doesn't have to be heavy - just getting up about the same time and going to bed about the same time
personally I like earlyish bedtimes for little ones but that is so I get some evening - and I find they sleep and behave better if not too tired

So in September you'll have a 4, 3, 2 year olds plus a newborn?
Wow!

Pack lunches night before

Get clothes for everyone night before

Forget the ironing

Enlist family help with school run

Put 3 yr old in nursery in the morning or afternoon - you get 15 hours free childcare

Get dh to batch cook meals for freezer at weekends

Also what time does dh leave for work?

Can he give 3 older ones breakfast & get them dressed while you feed baby & get yourself ready

Can you afford Sch dinners so less lunches to make?

Online shopping is your friend!

He is 4 so will be starting reception.We dont have any family nearby but DH could probably drop him off at school(and possibly the 3 yr old at pre school attatched to school-we have forms but not sent them back yet).

The school doesnt do dinners so its packed lunches only,i dont mind though i could always do them the night before,i usually do that anyway as we go out for picnics a lot!

Our routine (DSs 9,5 and 3, I work full time) along the line of
Up at 7 and get me sorted.
Get boys dressed/dress themselves.
Small breakfast for DSs(as 2 elder boys get breakfast again at school. Whilst they are eating I make packed lunches for elder 2.
8:00 leave house
8:10 drop DS1 and DS2 to breakfast club at school and drive on to work (with attached nursery).
8:25 drop DS3 to nursery
8:30 arrive in work trying to look calm cool and collected.
Lunchtime: walk to local shop and buy bread, milk etc and anything else needed for boys packed lunches next day.
4:30 leave work and pick up DS3 (takes 15mins as they go through his day).
5:00 pick up boys from afterschool club
5:10 get home and start cooking tea. whilst it is cooking go through DS1 and DS2 book bags and check for any letters/homework. If homework DS1 gets on with his.
Eat dinner.
6:30 ish, or as near to as possible, DS3 to bed with a story.
DS2 does his reading with me. Read DS2 a story. (He only has written homework at the weekend).
7-7:30 DS2 to bed. DS1 to his bedroom but allowed to read.
Prepare book bags for tomorrow - make sure all comments in home school books done, reading records filled in etc. Any money needed for school put into envelope and into DSs book bags.

At the weekend we try and do the DSs homework first thing, but at the moment DS2 is getting long maths worksheets so we do half first thing Sat and the rest on Sunday.

Oops meant to say, that as put them to bed, lay out their clothes for next day so not frantically looking for matching socks or a clean school jumper first thing in the morning .

If you can pack bags the night before with swimming kit,snack,book bag,home work,suncream,hat,letters,any trip money etc that would help hugely(I don't always manage it).

Get ds to lay out his uniform the night before even socks and pants.

Then it's just breakfast,teeth,get dressed,pick up stuff and go.

I know mums who freeze sandwiches so you could even pack the non cold stuff in his lunch box the night before then pop in the cold stuff and refresh his water bottle on the morning.

Wow you are going to be busy.

• Pack Lunches made the night before -
• Make dinner in batches - can use these for lunches as well
• Put the clothes out the night before
• make sure kit bags etc are out the night before

Routine should be the same for all:
-5:30 = dinner
-6:00 = bath

• 6:30 = story maybe some tv or play a puzzle
• 7:00 - light out for all three

School will impart its own routine! Ds was born 3 weeks after dd1 started school, when asked if baby had a routine - yes we take dd1 to school at 8:30 and go to collect in the afternoon. You just need from the begining to fix these as immovable times. Around that if baby goes in pj doesn't matter. Try as people have said to get things ready the night before, so you aren't in a flap. I freeze loads of stuff in advance, in winter goes in fridge night before to defrost, in summer can go to school frozen and defrosts in the morning.

As far as their routine goes they will slot into it. Many others will have been on holiday time over the summer, first day back comes as shock to most people. We are often away, so time difference plus late nights by campfire means 10/11pm isn't unheard of. First few days back they may not be writing sonnets, but a few days at school and they are into the up at 7.30 routine again. Because your dc are used to changes in routine, this will be like any other change.

Thanks for all the tips,will definitly be getting more organized the night before.
I am hoping that it will all fall into place naturally,like he will be tired from school so will want to go to bed earlyish and it wont become a supernanny nightmare scenario!If he doesnt have a siesta during the day and spends lots of time out or playing at home then hes usually asleep by 8 o clock,so i am hoping it will be the same with school.

What time do your dc eat their evening meal?We all just kind of eat as and when atm,i do make a meal for all of us around 6-6.30 but im guessing that will be too late?I was thinking of doing a seperate dinner for the kids at about 4.30 ish and then maybe a snack sometime before bedtime,like maybe some toast and a banana or something?

my DCs has a snack after school, have a meal at 5 pm - little one (2) goes to bed at 7pm -just has milk no snack - DS1 (6) goes up about 7.30 and is asleep by 8 - he has a snack before bed - it was bit earlier when he was in reception
some children do wait until 6 for a main meal though -