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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:
Pandamodium · 13/08/2019 07:32

Everything put out the night before. With one toddler, one in primary and one in secondary getting them all off to different schools and playgroups for different times (without a car as DH needs it) is like a military operation and I like as much sleep as possible. Each child has a storage box which fits in the days uniform, book bag/bag pack/hand bag (teenager)

hann24 · 13/08/2019 10:04

Having an alarm clock from a young age and making sure that having a lie in isn't something the kids ever learn about is a great option

sofieellis · 13/08/2019 11:20

No matter how organised I tried to be with my eldest two, there would always be something to make us late nearly every morning!. My youngest has been great at being organised right from starting nursery.

Tentomidnight · 13/08/2019 11:29

Make packed lunches the night before.
Pack bags the night before, and make sure any forms to be returned are filled in.
School shoes and coat near front door.
In the morning, dcs get dressed before coming downstairs for breakfast, then brush their teeth. THEN any spare time can be spent doing whatever they like.
Older dc heads out without any reminders, primary dc has to be prompted, which I do 5 mins earlier than necessary, as they don’t respond well to being rushed (and that leads to an argument and leaving later) to leave time for the inevitable last minute wee or dash to get something from their bedroom.
I love the summer holidays when none of this is necessary Grin

Smellophant87 · 13/08/2019 11:33

Get as much ready the night before as possible.

ninjaworrier · 13/08/2019 12:07

prepare everything that you can the night before.

farhanac · 13/08/2019 13:08

Recently moved around how we store items in the kitchen so that morning routine items were in easy reach

Deeceeha · 13/08/2019 15:40

Hire a nanny, then one doesn't have to do all that tedious stuff one's self.

JulieAlderson · 13/08/2019 15:41

Get everyone up in time to get ready. Sounds so easy doesn't it?

AbbiCMumsnet · 13/08/2019 16:42

Thanks for all your comments and congratulations to @nettymay for winning the voucher!

OP posts:
DoAllMeerkatsComeFromRussia · 13/08/2019 16:45

The best thing I ever did was to dedicate one area (ours is a shelf each) to each child. I bought one of those cheap canvas wardrobes which stands outside our downstairs toilet and has coats hanging on hangers on the rail, a shoe rack at the bottom and shelving down one side so all their stuff to take is in one place and can't go missing. When they come in from school, they put school bag, lunch box, hat, gloves, water bottle and anything else school related on their own personal shelf. I can take the lunch boxes from the shelves, sort them out and return them to the shelf in the morning. We can add to the shelf any permission slips, PE kits, homework etc that needs taking to school the next day. They can then get coat and shoes and make sure their shelf is completely empty and everything is in their bag. It saves us rushing about hunting for items in a panic. I also keep a hairbrush in a drawer in the hall and extra toothbrushes and toothpaste in the kitchen so there's no rushing off upstairs at the last minute because once they're up there they seem to forget time!

sootyo · 13/08/2019 19:38

Prepare as much as possible the night before, ie clothes, lunch boxes and school bags.

wef1984 · 13/08/2019 20:10

Everything ready the night before I have a calendar I note down what everyone is doing each day, clubs, swimming etc.

sarahm1234 · 13/08/2019 20:31

I get everything ready the night before so we arent rushing around in the morning finding school uniform or making lunches. I also have a planner in the kitchen so I can keep track of what is going on each week.

baconbap · 13/08/2019 20:36

get everything organised the night before, remembering to ask whether there is anything they need to have for the next day.

Nicole1709 · 13/08/2019 21:12

Stick to a schedule and set routine so the kids know what they need to be doing and how to help out.

RiSo · 13/08/2019 21:37

They each have a coat hook in the porch for their coats and bags, and each night I make sure their coat and bag is actually on the peg, their homework is done and in the bag, and their shoes are clean and under their coats. That takes most of the stress away for the morning trying to find everything! Their uniforms are all hanging and they know where to find their pants and socks etc, so it's just a case of feeding them, washing them, and getting them to get dressed whilst avoiding the tv and/or lego!

deepcmum · 13/08/2019 21:47

Make sure everything is in place the night before and they know what’s expected of them and stick to it

Flickabella81 · 13/08/2019 22:08

It's good to get the children to do as much as possible! Have a specific area where they lay out what they need For the next day. Shoes, bag, book bag, and coat for the next day. A check list they can tick off as they get ready is great e.g brush teeth, comb hair etc

babyloi · 14/08/2019 00:07

Getting everything ready the night before is an absolute must for helping the morning routine to move swiftly. Right down to getting the washing machine loaded and ready to switch on!
I also always get up fifteen minutes before the kids to get breakfast bowls ready, clothes out and prepare myself for immense energy they always wake up with!!!

snare · 14/08/2019 07:05

do what you can the night before

clairemarthaw · 14/08/2019 15:50

Prep the night before... uniforms ironed and bags packed, lunches made and books read before anything else happens (and certainly before any screen time)

Jocelynne123 · 14/08/2019 20:29

Everything sorted and laid out the day before and wake them up earlier so that they can have 30 mins watching tv with their breakfast to wake up.

Emmamaryd · 14/08/2019 21:08

Get as much sorted the night before as possible - bags, shoes, clothes, snacks etc.

alem17 · 18/08/2019 22:45

Prepare as much as possible the night before

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