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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:
juju3 · 07/08/2019 20:41

Use the weekend to "recharge your batteries" and to plan the week ahead

freefan · 07/08/2019 20:56

Eugh what a thought going back into a new term!

Organisation is definitely the key in here with bags packed and ready the night before and any homework done, uniforms are also checked and laid out.
Then in the morning hopefully it is a smooth time to get ready and have breakfast.

flowersfromheaven · 07/08/2019 20:58

I alway Get everything ready the night before helps a lot, always ask the kids what lessons they have got and is your school bags packed P.E kit, Books, Pencil case etc. Its still mayhem in the morning but it would be worst if most was not done the evening before.

kimbers85 · 07/08/2019 21:01

have uniforms out and packed lunches done the night before

patchysmum · 07/08/2019 21:02

Bags checked and packed the night before, uniforms ready, set the alarm so plenty of time for breakfast it is the most important meal of the day

xcxcsophiexcxc · 07/08/2019 21:21

Organise as much a possible the night before. Making lunches, preparing school bag, setting out clothes etc

helly27 · 07/08/2019 21:56

Get as much ready as you can the night before , their bag, their uniform and their lunch

Marg2k8 · 07/08/2019 22:20

Check their school bag the night before for any important messages such as the cake sale tomorrow that your child has forgotten to mention.

potofdreams4 · 07/08/2019 22:32

Prep, prep, prep. Prep as much as you can in advance. Wash and iron all clothes on Sunday and hang them in the wardrobe with polo shirt, tights, dress etc on the same hanger, do a big weekend shop to have all healthy snacks in and 2 water bottles on the go so you're not rushing to wash one out for the next day.

FusionChefGeoff · 07/08/2019 22:40

I have alarms set on my phone for getting dressed, breakfast, teeth etc and all have a different sound. Now, DC know each sound and almost subconsciously move onto the next thing!!! Coats and shoes is 5 mins before we have to leave then the final LEAVE one is alway a 'win' if we're already on our way when it goes.

It means that I'm not the one nagging - it's the phone Wink

Took a while to set up as we have to leave at different times on different days but totally worth it.

katieskatie82 · 07/08/2019 22:47

get organised. Dont leave things till last minute. Get the uniform shoes and bag ready the night before so your not rushed in the morning x

princesssmitheee · 08/08/2019 01:05

10 minutes meditation in the mornings

danigrace · 08/08/2019 03:38

Keep a calendar with enough space to clearly write everything on, then before bed each night clean up,
check calendar, pack bags accordingly and leave near door, prep breakfast, and lay out own clothes as well as kids. Smugly love yourself for it in the morning.

shroney · 08/08/2019 08:26

Everything is sorted the night before, bags are ready in the hallway and each child has a cupboard with their books/stationary etc in our home office.

Jade5093 · 08/08/2019 08:49

If I don’t get everything ready the night before then school mornings are a complete disaster

lhlee62 · 08/08/2019 09:31

Get everyone to help, I tell the kids to get their uniforms put out ready so no rummaging in the morning for everything. My husband or I get the lunchboxes made and ready in the fridge. I also check their bags regularly for any random forms or homework, nothing like a last minute dash to do homework over breakfast!

suzyq50 · 08/08/2019 09:31

Bags & uniform ready the night before
Get school dinners as making lunches can be time consuming.

Helsbells68 · 08/08/2019 10:06

Lay things out the night before and a wall organiser/calendar to keep on top of events

myusername12345 · 08/08/2019 10:55

Fake deadlines. A child's coat hook by the door for coats and bags.

Banjodancer · 08/08/2019 11:26

The things that are coming out here seem to be mostly about preparing the night before; and just as importantly having a place for everything (and persuading everyone to put it there so all the work isn't being done by the adult female in the house!)

angiehoggett · 08/08/2019 11:28

Prep as much as you can the night before and make sure everybody has their routine and sticks to it!

emmapudding · 08/08/2019 12:39

Each child's school books - exercise and textbooks - live in a box in their bedroom. It's their responsibility to go through them the night before and work out what they need for the next day. They have to sort out their own uniform for the next day and if they want a packed lunch, they have to make it, if not the night before, then early the next morning. (They are at secondary school, by the way. I have to say things are much easier now that they are responsible for getting themselves to school and back.)

cocochips · 08/08/2019 12:47

Organisation is key

Pmliu · 08/08/2019 13:18

I make sure everything is ready the night before and get my little ones ready in plenty of time before we have to leave or otherwise we will be rushing and might forget things when we are in a hurry

vik181 · 08/08/2019 13:38

Organisation is the key - even though it may go out of the window! Also, give yourself that extra 10 mins that you will inevitably use or be hailed as the best mom EVER because your children have time to play with their friends before going into school.
Make sure everything is by the front door, this way you don't forget anything! Repeat the same mantra EVERY morning - Have you got everything - Homework, bookbag, lunch bag, drink bottle, snack? Then half way to school remember you forgot the trip money (which needs to be in today) and dash back to get it.
Thank goodness for that extra 10 minutes.