Mumsnet users share their back to school tips with Tesco F&F

[EllieMumsnet]

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We know many of you are currently on your knees with end of term shenanigans, and the summer hols are looming ahead....but in the spirit of being organised way ahead of time we would love to know your tips on being prepared when the back to school period comes. With the return of routine comes the return of 6am starts and mornings spent throwing together lunches while throwing the right uniform on the right child - so Tesco would like to hear your tips for ensuring your family are prepared for school each day.

Tesco F&F say: "All kids come home with stains - it's the sign of an active day. But thanks to Tesco school uniforms special stain-repel technology and 100 day guarantee you can be rest assured that your kids will look as good on the first day everyday."

How do you save yourself time and unnecessary stress during the week? Do you have a go-to routine to ensure you’re prepared the night before? Or maybe you rely on a handful of hacks to keep your mornings running smoothly? Are your children’s uniforms kept in good nick for the whole year thanks to a perfect after school formula?

Whatever tips you follow, Tesco F&F want to hear them. Share them below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Tesco voucher for a store.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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edited by MNHQ

For me, to feel organised, I have all the white shirts ironed for the week so I don’t have the panic of trying to find a ckean one and get it ironed!

I also have a schedule hanging up showing PE days, library days, extra curricular activities, etc. so I’m nit caught out.

Week routine is almost automated! :) uniforms ready for next day/lunch bags ready/ books organised....All night before...and relax! :) somehow, however, mornings are still chaotic!😂

If your child has a busy routine with different extra curricular activities buy a different coloured string/PE type bag for each, so e.g.

• swimming - blue
• dance kit- pink
• PE - red
• drama - black

after washing, items get transferred straight to the right bag and stored/ hung in a convenient place, ready to go.

It saves scrabbling around packing bags and carrying loads of unnecessary kit around just because they haven't got around to unpacking it....

labeling all of my child’s school uniform is key, as otherwise a lot of it goes walkies. Label everything including shoes!!

All mostly prepared the night before:
. Iron clothes and lay them out
. Polish shoes
. Make lunches with the lunchboxes set out to be packed in the morning.

Uniform ready the night before.
Packed lunch prepared (or at least planned) the night before.
Wake up earlier than the kids so I can get myself ready before starting with them.
School bags ready the evening before.
I always make sure we've time to do something together before we set out, such as read a story or just have some time to chat or be in the garden before school. When super organised and up early enough we leave early and spend 20 min in the park before school. It makes it feel like our time is still our own, and that even with school on we can do things we enjoy.
It can be stressful, mainly when the kids get into the habit of going to bed and waking late. When waking early and organized it is fine.

We have 6 shirts, 6 trousers, 6 jumpers. It means that in the winter I don't have to panic if the washing doesn't dry during the week and there is a spare to put in his bag in case of accidents at school.

I buy uniform whenever it's on offer; just stocked up on next year's stuff from M&S when it was 20% off.

Lunch is a variation on a theme; I batch cook a tray of flapjacks and have them in the freezer, then it's a sandwich or wrap and a piece of fruit. Not much creativity but he likes it and there's no waste.

We don't get homework yet, just various suggestions for tasks each term so we try to do a little bit each weekend as the attention span can be pretty limited.

No tv in the morning; a star chart for "no faffing" has also helped .

no tv in the morning for grown ups or kids :)

We have a uniform wardrobe in an alcove at the top of the stairs.
All uniform, sports kits, swimming kits, activity kits etc for the 3 kids go in there. Means there’s no running around the house looking for it all.
It also has clothes marker pen, thins like welsh badges for at David’s day, red noses, etc.

My daughter will start year one in September so I think I am a bit too new for the back to school tips! but in terms of everyday stuff, totally agree with doing as much prep as possible. Keeping on top of the washing of school uniforms has been a struggle so I think I need to buy more items. I encourage my daughter to get her uniform ready in the morning and check for stains and if I need to get another dress etc out. I need to get some new shoes for my daughter before September so my tips to myself is to get these sorted sooner rather than later to prevent a manic rushing around the shops just before school starts. Now I am thinking that I need to write a list of items I need eg I know she needs new PE shorts etc..and just buy them now so I don't need to worry about them all summer long! I feel like I have already missed a number of school uniform sales from the key retailers, I guess that tells me how organised some parents are!

3-4 uniform sets, no panic in winter.
Separate wardrobe for uniforms, swimming kit, PE kit, book bags , so no rush in the morning.

School uniform off as soon as get in and old clothes on - can often get another days wear out of it then! I have a child on a special diet so have to weigh out all her meals the night before. In the morning we are not as organised as I’d like due to that. The school also starts at 8.30! Argh!

Go to the Uniform Shop at a non-premium time. Get everything you need in the first week or so off school so it's not hanging over you for the whole summer holiday.

I like to get organised the night before, I get clothes out ready so they are on hand in the morning, I make sure everyone is dressed before we head downstairs in the morning to save chasing them around. Once the kids are having their breakfast I will get bags etc out ready for the day ahead.

I always do packed lunch the evening before and lay out my DC's and my uniform before going to bed so we're not rushing around early in the morning.

I meal prep at the weekend so tea is a 'shove it all in' jobby mid-week. Everything sorted for the next day before bed, and absolutely everything goes on the calendar!

Just try to be organised and get everything ready a day or two before.

I always
Put uniforms out the night before
Make fresh packed lunch in the morning before I get my kids up
Check book bags as soon as we get in from school for letters etc
Extra uniforms

always be well prepared.Buy all uniform stuff early before things sell out! Get the kids to start going to bed early about 2 weeks before they go back. Get them up early as well.

I thrive on routine. The haphazard routine of holidays makes me unhappy. I love it when I can plan and shop for the packed lunches, have a washing rota for school uniforms, and have the after school clubs marked on the calander!

I always buy 2 of everything and buy early, running around last minute and panicking because the size you want isn’t in stock anywhere is a stress I’ve certainly learnt from! Make sure the uniforms are all ready the night before, the book bags are packed with all the essentials and the packed lunches are done

Get as much as possible ready the night before: i.e. school bags, clothes, lunch boxes.

Do not spend a fortune on branded uniform with logos especially for younger kids. It all gets ruined anyway

Exactly a week before i start to reduce the time they can go to sleep, so that by the time they actually start, they are back into a good sleep routine....

I plan and prepare the night before and try and stay as organised as possible. I write lists, put any sporting events, hobbies, etc onto the main calendar and TRY not to stress...