Fall is officially here, and with school back in full swing, are you still trying to smooth out those morning routine kinks? There’s no better way to get back on track than by using these four simple tips to help get over the summer and transition into the fall — with school spirit to boot!
Create A Central Landing Zone
Has your child missed the bus because they can’t find an overdue library book, field trip permission slip, or even his or her shoes? Creating a central landing zone is a smart idea to streamline and de-stress getting out the door in the morning. By adding wall cabinets for laundry room storage, you create a place for children to stay organized and start the day off right. Above, designate a cabinet with a basket for hats and gloves, and an in-box for papers parents need to sign. Then add hooks for hanging book bags and jackets. Place a bench below, with cubbies for holding shoes.
Start A Better Breakfast Routine
Speaking of starting the day off right, eating a good breakfast has been shown to have a positive impact on school performance. Stock your pantry cabinets with healthy options like whole grain cereal, granola, and instant oatmeal, keep fresh fruit, nut butters, and protein rich yogurt in the refrigerator, and whip up make ahead breakfast items that can be quickly heated in the microwave oven, such as Breakfast Egg Cups, pre-baked French Toast, and frozen breakfast sausage with hard boiled eggs.
Plan Ahead The Night Before
Avoid the morning rush by packing lunches the night before. Store yogurt tubes, fresh fruit (or fruit cups), cheese cubes, cut veggies, hummus, sliced pepperoni, and deli meats centrally located in a refrigerator bin. Keep a second bin in the kitchen pantry with whole wheat bread and crackers, granola bars, pretzel sticks, chip bags, and other snacks, and let kids choose items to add to their lunch box. It’s also smart to encourage kids to pick out their outfits and pack up their homework the night before, as well, so that the morning routine can be as smooth as possible.
Designate A Special Place For Homework
There’s nothing worse than a mess of homework papers piled on your countertops, especially when you have an open concept kitchen where clutter is always on display. And while it’s nice to have your child next to you while cooking meals, doing homework in the kitchen is not ideal, since there are also distractions everywhere. And while an open concept kitchen has its benefits, you have the added issue of a television right across the room. In a recent blog, we talked about How to Add A Homework Station To Your Home Office. By giving children a quiet place to call their own, you make homework a more enjoyable and easy experience for all.
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