Share your school morning hacks with Arla Big Milk – chance to win £300 voucher!NOW CLOSED

[RebeccaEMumsnet]

Whether you’re celebrating or commiserating, it will soon be time to go back to school. For some, it will be the first time their DCs put on their (slightly too large) school uniforms and head off into primary school. To make the new routine a little easier for first-time school mums, Arla wants to know what clever tricks and hacks you use to make everything run a little smoother during your own school week.

Here’s what Arla has to say: 'Being a parent is often unpredictable and getting your little one the nutrients they need isn’t always easy. That’s why Arla Big Milk has been developed to specifically meet the needs of growing children from ages one to five*, enriched with essential nutrients to help support children’s growth and development as part of their balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Arla Big Milk ‘helping your little ones become big ones’

If your DC is starting school this September, what do you plan to do to prepare them (and yourself!) for the change? Are you going to rehearse the school routine, or the school run? Do you have a plan to cope with your own emotions on their first day?

If you already been there and done it - once that scary first day was out of the way how did you keep the momentum going? Did you turn getting ready for school into a fun challenge, with strict time limits and music? Perhaps you’re a stickler for getting lunches, uniforms and bags prepared and set out the night before, ready for the day ahead? Do you end up resorting to good old bribery to get the kids out of the door on time?

Whatever your tip or hack is, Arla want to hear about it, so post a comment below. Everyone who posts will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will receive a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Insight T&Cs Apply

*The Department of Health recommends that children at the age of one move onto fresh whole cows’ milk and that their diets are supplemented with additional Vitamin, A, D and Iron

[glennamy]

Label all the kids school clothes... have them laid out ready for the morning, make the packed lunches the night before... always check after school to see if they have any homework and ensure they do it... :)

[ipanda]

Prepare everything the night before. Get into a the routine of going to bed earlier and waking up by the alarm clock a week before.

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

Stick in/on name labels kept somewhere accessible to stick into the brand new cardigan/shirt as you're leaving the house.

Quick breakfast for when they're not hungry when you want to feed them and need something at the last minute to keep them going - blitz a banana, a few strawberries, milk and some instant oats and get them to drink it on the way. Just remember to rinse out the cup/bottle as soon as possible.

[MummyBtothree]

I label absolutely everything belonging to my kids and I get everything ready the night before. I also use an alarm clock to wake up on school days to make sure we aren't late. My dc number three starts school this September, he's the baby of the family so I'm going to have lots of tissues handy on his first day...for me!

[geezerbird44]

Make packed lunches the night before

[jandoc]

try and have bags packed and breakfast ready to go

[IonaAilidh11]

make lunches night before, lay out their uniforms and set three alarms!

[MrsPnut]

Ask if there is a parent or PTA page/ mailing list and join it. Our PTA page is great for asking for copies of homework and Does Mrs B's class need to bring in wellies today? questions.

Labels are brilliant and the easy 2 name ones with a picture on as well as their name are great for little ones that can't read yet. They are more likely to recognise their picture (skull, butterfly etc). I also write the childs name on the inside of the waistband of their jumpers in sharpie and we have lost very few over the years.

[kayleigh39]

I always prepare the kids bags and lunches without fail, the evening before. To get them to get out the front door, we have a chart on the fridge that shows how long it's taken for everyone to get ready. The quickest person at the end of the week gets a treat!

[RACHELSMITH45]

Get everything prepared the night before..this is the key!! Uniform hung up and ready, shoes by the door... No looking for lost items then last minute. Get all the homework done and bag also packed.

[feefeegabor]

We get everything ready the night before - even down to laying out my daughter's uniform so she won't have to worry in the morning. Everything is labelled and the lunchbox is done (apart from the sandwiches!).

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

Do as much as you can the night before - packed lunches, uniforms out, bags ready, even bowls & spoons out ready for breakfast!

And turn everything into a race - first one to get dressed / brush teeth / put shoes on...

Every second counts!!!!

[Julieguy]

Label EVERYTHING, and get everything ready days before.

[Lisapaige24]

Lay everything out the night before
Set you alarm 15 minutes earlier for the first week just until your back into the routine
Have all the lunches ready the night before
Have your kids favourite cereals in so you can make breakfast without any tantrums
Leave the house a little bit earlier as the traffic will be heavier than usual especially the first day back at school as you don't wanna be late on your kids first day back at school

[sarah861421]

labelling, prepping the night before, and turn the tv off. USe the radio instead, its much less distracting

[cocochips]

Oversleeping!

[freefan]

Put them to bed in their uniforms to save time in the morning................. :) Just kidding :)
I sit everything out the night before, make sure bags are packed and shoes are clean.
On the way home we talk about their day, any worries or fears they have and all the good stuff too and if there's a problem of any sort I speak to their teacher to reassure myself that they will keep an eye on them.

[Marg2k8]

My children are older now, so reading this thread brought back lots of memories. I would suggest a small ice pack for lunch boxes, as in warm weather, sandwiches left on a shelf not in a fridge are not ideal.

[moneypenny66]

Label everything. Don't leave buying new uniform to the last week. Get everything ready the night before. Make sure they have a good breakfast and where possible walk to school. It wakes everyone up!

[MAT12]

Organise yourself the night before, uniform, lunches etc then establish a morning Routine that works for you and your DC this is definitely key to keeping any stress at bay and making the DC feel relaxed and ready for their day at school

[stefalfie11]

Make the lunches the night before and label them clearly otherwise DD may end up with the crusts on her sandwiches like DS wanted them and not the triangles she wanted!!

[tiddles12]

Everything is organised the night before- all school gear ready on hangers- even underwear and packed lunches in the fridge. Bags checked ready for school to ensure all work done, and all notes read and actioned.

[Maclairey]

Pack lunches and school bags the night before. Get clothes out ready the night before. Even get the cereal bowls out the night before. Basically just do as much as you can the night before. Because they will make you late in the morning!

[ricola1]

Already have uniform out

[FlukeSkyeRunner]

Always get everything ready the night before - uniforms, pe kits, cups and plates ready fir breakfast, shoes by the front door etc. Get up in plenty of time. Have something special planned for the afternoon after the first day at school to distract any reluctant school starters.