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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Your help required - top tips on surviving the school run

241 replies

JustineMumsnet · 05/01/2007 11:48

Hi there,
We've been asked to put together a list of tips on surviving the school run/surviving car travel with the children in general eg how can you save time in the morning, at breakfast, how do you get them to leave the house/ stopping squabbling in the car etc etc

All your wit and wisdom gratefully received plus all who post a tip on this thread will be entered into this week's competition to win a Nintendo Wii games console and game .

Many thanks,
MNHQ

OP posts:
ledodgy · 05/01/2007 12:07

OOps sorry missed that!

tealady · 05/01/2007 12:07

Try and make sure you have easy breakfast choices eg healthy cereals and fruit (save the pancakes, full english etc for w/e).

While they are breakfasting you can be doing other things.

Mine always get ready after breakfast to keep clothes clean. Try and remind them to brush teeth before getting dressed or else ties and jumpers get decorated with toothpaste.

Have a timetable in your head and stick to it. i.e. get up at 7am, breakfast at 7.30 get dressed 7.45. Leave 8.15. Always have 10 mins contingency so that if you are late you will not be really late.

Have school uniform ready the night before.

Have bags ready the night before.

Have lunches made as much as poss the night before.

Have a 'timetable' to record and check all the extras you need each day eg swimming gear, Music stuff etc.

Have regular places where school gear is kept so that you don't waste time looking for things.

TV etc only allowed when ready.

mellowma · 05/01/2007 12:09

Message withdrawn

JackieNo · 05/01/2007 12:10
katzg · 05/01/2007 12:11

for the nursery run and work i would have to say that the key for us is to feed the girls before dressign them or else we end up changing clothes which takes time.

On mornings when we over sleep cousants (SP) are great because they can be eaten on the bus on the way to nursery!

i really want that wii too!

mellowma · 05/01/2007 12:11

Message withdrawn

JackieNo · 05/01/2007 12:12

. to be fair, they were probably x-posts.

mellowma · 05/01/2007 12:15

Message withdrawn

Pollyanna · 05/01/2007 12:16

get all school bags and shoes by the front door the night before

Have all school clothes and your clothes laid out in full the night before

do packed lunches the night before

Have breakfast things, crockery and cutlery laid out the night before

Get up and shower (if necessary) before the children get up.

get children dressed before breakfast

No tv in the morning

keep a toothbrush, toothpaste and flannel downstairs

aim to leave 10 minutes before you need to (there will always be a last minute rush)

(I really want the wii!)

jellyhead · 05/01/2007 12:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

southeastastra · 05/01/2007 12:18

park round the corner so it looks like you've walked and time it so that they are just going in and you don't have to mingle with the other parents

maisym · 05/01/2007 12:19

know some good & legal parking places were you can safely get all kids out of the car.

mellowma · 05/01/2007 12:20

Message withdrawn

MrsBadger · 05/01/2007 12:21

oh yes - never, never hit the snooze button thinking you have time for 'five minutes more'.

Get youself up before getting the kids up - if you're telling them off for being in their pyjamas when you're still in yours you're fighting a losing battle...

Pamina · 05/01/2007 12:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Heavenis · 05/01/2007 12:28

Make sure you are up and dressed before the children wake.
Get them to stay school dinners, you don't have to worry about doing pack up the night before.
Breakfast and teeth cleaned before getting dressed.
Make sure they go to the toilet just before you leave the house.
If you walk make sure you teach them to walk a varying speeds so if your running late they can speed up.

Mo2 · 05/01/2007 13:23
  • Make sure your children are dressed and up before they are awake
  • 'Lift' them at 11pm to take them to the toilet and give them breakfast
  • After lifting them, put them into the car to go back to sleep, together with the book bags and water bottles...

simple....

Sobernow · 05/01/2007 13:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pablothelittleredfox · 05/01/2007 13:28

Hmmm, you see I find TV quite useful in the morning.

I take them out of the room to get dressed and they are sooper dooper quick because they want to get back to Lazy Town

All the usual

Lay clothes out the night before
Make packed lunches the night before and put in the porch
Get up as soon as alarm goes off
Allow children to brush their teeth in downstairs bathroom (saves trying to drag them up and down stairs)

I don't really struggle with car journeys it has to be said. Mine are good travellers.

On long trips you can't beat a DVD player.

Blu · 05/01/2007 13:34

MO2.

Oh dear.
This is my way:
Lie in bed with a coffee while encouraging your child to read school reading book.
Plonk child in front of CeeBeebies with some breakfast while you shower.
Dress compliant non-wriggling glued-to-Ceebeebies child in front of TV.
Then inject some urgency and co-operation in getting CeeBeebies turned off by shouting 'let's see who will come past our woindow first' in the dash to join school friends walking to school.
Time your exit from front door very skilfully so that another Mum shouts 'Oh, I'll walk him round today, shall I?'
And above all, never ever pander to the idea that a packed lunch is an option. School lunches are excellent for mental health - Yours!

roisin · 05/01/2007 13:35
  • Sort out school bags - notes, swimming kit, etc in the afternoon after school each day. (Train the children to do it themselves as soon as possible)
  • Pin a weekly timetable on the wall somewhere with a checklist of things to remember each day
  • Lay uniform out the night before (ditto above)
  • Buy the children an alarm clock with a snooze button, and set 10 mins earlier than they need to get up. When it first goes off, go into their room, press snooze, open the curtains and/or switch the light on. When it goes off for the second time they have to get up, switch it off themselves, and get dressed
  • No-one comes downstairs until they are dressed
  • No TV/computer/tamagotchi or whatever the latest craze is until dressed, downstairs, breakfasted, and teeth clean.
  • If timings start to slip, then put up a sticker chart in the dining room with 'race' timings of how many mins it takes them to get downstairs from the second alarm. (Only children can race against themselves each day.)

The main important things are

  • Have a strict routine and stick to it
  • Teach the children to take responsibility for themselves, and reward them for doing so
MariNativityPlay · 05/01/2007 13:37

My top tip is move to a house from which you can throw your child, dressed and cleaned or not (up to child) straight into the playground.
We are so lucky to have a two minute walk during which we can all squabble to our heart's content.
Otherwise our mornings would resemble Blu's.

LITTLEdonkeyFISH · 05/01/2007 13:37

For longer car journeys, pack a small bag with a variety of toys and snacks. Keep the bag in the front of the car and distribute "new" toys at regular intervals.

tortoiseshell · 05/01/2007 13:38

Have a very strict timetable, and stick to it, no chat, no games till everyone has shoes on , coat on, breakfast eaten, book bag in hand. Make packed lunches the night before, load book bags night before. Have clothes ready on bed.

Please don't enter me into the competition - I really don't want a Wii!!!

MariNativityPlay · 05/01/2007 13:39

But torty, if you win, you can give it to me