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IKEA would like to hear your tips for making the weekday school routine as stress-free as possible

400 replies

AbbiCMumsnet · 24/07/2019 09:17

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Getting your kids out of the door for the morning school run is not for the faint hearted. It’s a task that hardly ever goes to plan, with the potential for things to go wrong always lurking around the corner. With this in mind, IKEA would love to know hear your advice on how you make the weekday school routine as stress-free as possible, and any hacks you might have to make your life easier.

Here’s what IKEA have to say:
“A key way to keeping morning madness to a minimum is involving everyone in the home. When your home is set up so that your little ones don’t need constant help, everyone’s a winner. Put dinnerware and food in places your children can easily reach so they can set the table while you focus on making breakfast. A light step stool can help in the kitchen and bathroom.
In the bedroom, our STUVA range is designed from the ground up ensuring interiors are all easily reachable by little hands, with most parts being adjustable, meaning the furniture can grow your child. But one of the best places to keep well organised is the hallway. A bench with hidden storage will work wonders, just pop their bags inside and add a coat rack at their height nearby to give them a one stop shop before leaving each morning.”

Have you established an efficient system to get your kids out of the door on time? How do you deal with unexpected obstacles that get in your path when trying to leave? Do you prepare meticulously the night before, or do you wing it in the morning and hope for the best - maybe the latter works best for you!

All who share their tips on avoiding the stress of the weekday school run will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win £300 in IKEA vouchers.
Thanks and good luck

MNHQ
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IKEA would like to hear your tips for making the weekday school routine as stress-free as possible
OP posts:
Clairejw605 · 07/08/2019 10:55

I get up an hour before everyone else so I don’t feel rushed, that’s how we forget things!

footdust · 07/08/2019 11:02

Get everything ready the night before - uniform, bags, kit, packed lunches and breakfast things. The key in our house is getting up early enough so no one feels too rushed which is stessful. No TV / screens until everyone is ready to leave and then they can watch as long as nothing is left to do l

hiddenmichelle · 07/08/2019 11:08

organise everything you need the night before, lay out uniform ready and set an alarm!

buzzybev · 07/08/2019 11:24

everything laid out the night before

twinklenicci · 07/08/2019 11:44

sort everything out the night before then you arent running around looking for items on the last minute

spottypjs · 07/08/2019 12:05

Preparing things the night before and also a timetable on the fridge of school things to remember throughout the week, e.g. homework, pe kit etc so that children can have a look the night before in order to pack their bag.

lizd31 · 07/08/2019 12:15

It's no problem with Olivia as she loves school & can't wait to get there. She does her homework as soon as she gets home & even loves to be taught extra, especially with Maths. I've just bought her a Letts English & Maths book so she can do more fun learning activities

mamof3boys · 07/08/2019 12:18

I wouldn't say that I'm organised and I intend to get everything prepared in advance but never quite manage it, so instead I just have a good, consistent routine which seems to work well for me. I trying to keep timings the same so I know how much time I've got.

moosexxx · 07/08/2019 12:23

Preparation is key, as is staying on course. You need to make sure that everyone knows what they are expected to do (fill water bootles, fill sandwich boxes, makes sandwiches, wash and clothe themselves). Doing what you can the night before is also helpful.

Minnibix · 07/08/2019 12:44

I put out their school clothes the night before and let them pack their school bags the night before as well. I also have a mental timetable in my head like everybody needs to be washed and downstairs by a certain time if we are going to get out the door and to school on time

teenywhale · 07/08/2019 12:47

Get as much organised as possible the night before!

Rachdayan · 07/08/2019 12:55

Lunches prepared the night before, clothes laid out for the next day. Bath before bed and no cartoons in the morning!

jessicakaren · 07/08/2019 13:05

Definitely prepare everything the night before, school lunches, uniform, shoes/bag etc. Not just for your children but for yourself, so there's no rush for anyone in the mornings!

RACHELSMITH45 · 07/08/2019 13:08

Preparation is the key. Outfits on the banister, shoes by the door ready, lunches prepare the night before, no tech before school!!

liz1970 · 07/08/2019 13:09

Be organised and prepare everything the night before :)

AuFinch · 07/08/2019 13:38

Get organised! I always taught our son that it was "being kind to yourself" if you get everything you can get ready in advance so you have a more relaxing morning instead of a mad chicken panic!

Make time - kids are a nightmare and operate on a different time zone from us - 20 minutes to an adult is like 2 minutes to a child, so make sure you give your kids as much time as possible to get themselves out of bed, washed, fed and ready to go.

Reward them for doing good on manic mornings - on those days you dont have as much time and the "tag team" work well together then promise them something fun later when you will have more time after school or at weekend for doing a good job!

LucyBo17 · 07/08/2019 13:47

I lay clothes and shoes out the night before and make sure pack lunches are done and in the fridge, then all I need to do is put them in bag in the morning. I try to organise my husband as well but that doesn't usually work!

tubbyj · 07/08/2019 13:50

Routine everything prepared the night before

ricola1 · 07/08/2019 13:51

Routine!

racheybr · 07/08/2019 13:52

I also have a need to make sure all school bags are organised and laid out in the hall the night before, that uniform is checked and ready to be put on and shoes are in the hall ready to go on. Reading books are done before bed and any school communication books filled in then also. We would not have a hope of being ready otherwise! in the morning its all about getting a decent breakfast into them and ensuring they are clean and presentable then I have to drive them in and hope there are no problems on the roads and that I can park somewhere in the street the other end, which is quite enough stress to contend with

devito92 · 07/08/2019 13:53

My DS was an early riser and couldn't wait to get to school everyday. He even headed out an hour early when he went to high school.

strawberrisc · 07/08/2019 14:12

In an ideal world I would never live by routine, that's why I love holidays so much - the total collapse of the day to day timetable. However, it's necessary during everyday life when school and jobs need to be attended to. The golden rules are to do everything possible the night before - getting clothes and packed lunches ready (both for the adults and the children) and then to stick to a timed routine in the morning.

sophiefx · 07/08/2019 14:13

Everything ready night before, plenty of time to get ready in the mornings and a calm and relaxed morning.

SandAndSeals · 07/08/2019 14:21

I've not got to school ages yet but I do still need to drop off our son before work. The only way I manage is by prepping everything the night before - my lunch prepped, both our clothes laid out, the change bag prepped and ready. If I don't prep then the morning can be a panic.

gd2011 · 07/08/2019 14:28

Preparation the night before (e.g. uniform, gym kit, packed lunch) and tell the kids to be ready 10 minutes before you actually need them to be ready.