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Back to School: Getting Organised + a Giveaway!

As much as it’s breaking my heart (I am so not ready!), we have slowly started getting organised for Immy starting kindy. One of the hardest changes for us is going to be getting out of the door, into the car and to school on time! I am not much of a morning person (and cannot even imagine how I’ll get it all together once we throw a newborn into the mix) and until now we have tended towards a leisurely, relaxed start to each day, generally without commitments before 9.30am.

I have printed, laminated and hung our school morning routine cards on the bathroom door, which is both directly across from Immy’s bedroom and the area where much of the morning action will need to take place.My plan is to get us both more organised in the mornings well before school begins for the year (wish me luck with that one!)

We have also been organising uniforms (sob!) and labelling all of the school stuff. A job made super easy thanks to the Bright Star Kids School Labels Value Kit.

back to school tips

The kit contains personalised labels suitable for labelling everything from clothing and shoes to lunchboxes and stationery.

bright star kids labels

Childhood 101 readers (open internationally!) have the chance to win one of two School Labels Value kits from Bright Star Kids, personalised with the name, colour and icon of their choosing. Each pack includes;

  • 10 large stick-on labels
  • 30 small stick-on labels
  • 16 large round labels (with clear covers for use in shoes)
  • 30 regular iron-on clothing tags
  • 10 book labels
  • 80 tiny stick-on labels

This giveaway is now closed. Winners will be contacted shortly.

Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. Darienna says

    Visualisation of the day out, and then preparing and packing the stuff required the night before so that there is no mad rush to scramble for stuff before heading out. When kid (my boy is currently only 1..) is older, will walk him through the next day routine so he knows what to expect the next day, to minimise (toes & fingers crossed) the fussing and whining.

  2. Aussie Mum says

    My eldest started pre-primary last year and to start with it was a real struggle for me to get him and his two younger brothers out the door in time for school every morning. After a month or two I realised I needed to be much more organised and found that having an evening routine for me (where I was able to prepare for the next day) was a huge help. For my evening routine I check the calendar or diary to see what I had to pack for the next day, I pack my bag and juniors school bag ready for the morning (plus Rascals and Puggles bags if they have daycare), and I also partly pack Juniors lunch box so that only the perishables need to go in the next morning. The final thing I do, which seems to make a huge difference for me, is I empty the dishwasher and rubbish bins and put out the non perishable breakfast things. That way Junior can start getting his own breakfast as soon as he is up and the dishes get packed straight into the dishwasher before we walk out the door. I won't say our mornings are always stress free but they sure run a lot more smoothly with a little forward planning.

  3. Alyra says

    Practice! with consistency so that it becomes a habit and not a chore. Our 2 year old starts Kindy on Thursday and told me when she woke this morning that it she was going to the toilet and making her bed first, then breakfast :)

  4. Kat says

    The trick is to wake them up early...i find that negotiating also works best! katch05 at gmail dot com

  5. Karen says

    If you have some sort of idea of how long you think it'll take to get out the door each morning you can easily add an extra 1/2 hr to that time. Then you MIGHT be ready in time. If you have a harsh winter add more time!

  6. Bron says

    Now my guys are a little older.....definitely NO TV on!! I see by the uniform yur decision on schooling has been made....you will both be fine! xx

  7. Kenza says

    Picking out clothes the night before (to minimize morning clothes negotiations - no uniform here but sometimes wish we did :), loading the car the night before (school needed items and after school activities) except for lunch and having spare toothbrushes, hairbrushes, breakfast bars, shoes and a change of clothes in the car just in case.

  8. Aly says

    I pack the car the night before with whatever I can. I put out the clothes I want my daughter to wear the night before and I get up before her and get myself dressed and ready so I can focus on her in the morning. I also cheat and feed her breakfast in the car if we need to be somewhere really early (though I do keep these breakfasts to some cut up fruit and yoghurt to reduce the clean up!) I also like to make sure ALL of her toys are packed away the night before so there are fewer distractions in the morning. I am 23 weeks pregnant too so I'm a little afraid I won't get out of the house before 10am once our new baby joins our family!

  9. Angela says

    My daughter tends to dillydally in the mornings when it comes to getting dressed so I find that if the first thing she does when she wakes up is gets into the shower we over come that hurdle, making mornings run much smoother.

  10. Signe says

    Put out breakfast bowls, spoons, cups, bread, toast condiments on the table before going to bed, then it's all ready for the morning!

  11. Teresa McNamara says

    We lay out every item of clothing everyone will need right down to undies, socks and shoes the night before - so if anything is missing we will know then rather than as we are trying to get out the door.

  12. kerry santillo says

    Out of the house on time, Begging, pleading, it feels like a crime. I found my best tip to be, Bribing and yes you can have that!!! We will see♥

  13. Jo says

    Preparing as much as possible the night before, then getting up early to give yourself plenty of time so nobody's in a panic. Well I hope this works, my eldest starts kindy this year! :)

  14. Lisa G says

    We get lunches, necessary clothes and other items organized the night before. By far our biggest tip for getting out the door on time would be to get all the important stuff (getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, etc) out of the way first thing after waking up! We use a kitchen timer and the theme song to the CARS movie to add a bit of fun and 'urgency' to the routine! Perfect way to speed up a 4 yr od boy who loves to race! If there is a bit of time after all that, my 4 yr old is allowed to play with his cars before we put on shoes and coats and head out the door.

  15. Amanda Miller says

    We also organize clothes, homework into backpacks, etc.. the night before. None of us are morning people, so me trying to get 4 people ready in the morning is pure chaos in and of itself :) Our mornings seem to flow better when things are already planned ahead of time.

  16. Diana says

    Wake up half an hour earlier than you need to. This allows for the dilly dallying, unexpected 'situations' and there's no need to rush around.

  17. Tash Green says

    I have 7 to get ready in the morning 5 at school and 2 still home with mummy.We get most things organised the evening before,uniforms set out,bags packed,lunches made and stored in the fridge,notes signed,breakfast table set.This makes for a much more relaxed morning.In the morning I wake them all up with music playing and we dance around getting ready,you will often see my kids still dancing as the board the school bus :)

  18. Andrea says

    Preparation is the key, but here, school isn't a legal obligation until you're five. So if we are dragging our heels one morning, the traffic's heavy and we stroll in a little late, we just apologise. I'm not prepared to yell at my three year old for the sake of getting her to pre school on time, it's never a great way to start the morning and isn't constructive emotional literacy!

  19. Kirrily says

    Oh, Christie, you sound like me! You and your cute little hopes to get you both organised and out the door before school starts. Sigh! Imma not making much progress yet and we're on day 17 into the new year... ahem. So. My best tip? You probably already know it: I call it the three b's and I'm rather good at it... Bribery Bellyaching Blubbering (me, not her)

  20. Tasha M says

    Have lunches premade, bags packed and breakfast supplies sorted the night before. Visualise what needs to happen in the morning, work out how much time you need... Then add another 20 minutes!

  21. Tash says

    I find that for us to be out the door before 9am, it is best if I get up before everyone else. That way I am all dressed and ready as soon as the kids wake up for breakfast and the madness that may follow mood dependant. It is also best if everything that can be done the night before is, particularly getting bags packed or organised otherwise I seem to forget things.

  22. Gael M says

    School clothes and lunches/snacks prepared the night before, and don't let the kids stay in bed too long(eg, towards the end of term when everyone starts getting tired). And, if you're like me, you need to aim to be out of the house 20 minutes earlier than you really need to, just to allow for toilet visits, etc.

  23. Nicole Jameson says

    I can relate Christie - and with a 6 week old newbie, getting out the front door is a double juggling job. I still often find myself in pj's at 10am, but we have started practicing getting out the front door in preparation of the school start. My biggest tip is the same as everyone else - night before prep. But I've also found putting out my exercise gear the night before too makes for a quick getaway as it requires no ironing, and comes with the quick and easy ponytail/hat combo. I also schedule feed for my newbie and playtime for Max 30 minutes before departure to make sure I have at least an hour and a half for school drop-off before the next feed. So far the 'practice runs' have been working but time will tell when the real thing starts in Feb!

  24. Kate says

    My biggest tips are 1. make lunch, fill drink bottle etc the night before 2. Have backpack ready with news, sheets 3. Put my daughters shoes next to her backpack (this is a huge one for us) 4. Mummy gets showered(optional)/dressed before Dad leaves for work so if the new baby isn't sleeping I have an extra pair of hands to cuddle him while I make myself presentable! Haven't been to preschool in my pjs yet but it's been close a few times. 5. Relax & laugh. I want my daughter to remember that mummy is happy when I leave her at preschool and not feel like the morning is a burden because of her. Not always easy but sometime you just can't get it all together and you will be late, but you can control how you react. Good luck

  25. Liga Krista says

    I make the day before a take away breakfast for her, she knows, she can have it in the daycare and besides - Montessori principles help us a lot - she just knows, what has to be done in the mornings ;) dresses herself with the clothes, she has chosen and that's it - ready to go :)

  26. Ellie says

    For me, the priority is getting the kids into the carseats. Until that point, most of our efforts are in vain. I get the essentials on the kids clothes-wise and finish them when they're in the car, otherwise we just don't seem to be able to get out the door. When we arrive, I put Mr. Dribblers shirt on and both kids shoes and socks on. I have the wipes ready to wipe faces, and a water-spray bottle and comb to do hair. I also have my own toiletry bag and give myself a couple of minutes attention for the day. It seems a bit over the top, but my kids are go-go-go and without these small measures, we'd be arriving places with dried Weetbix on our shirts and sleep in our eyes. Lunches and snacks are always, always done the night before!

  27. Rachelle says

    I really like the idea of the night before prep, but I'm an early to bed kind of person, so it has only ever happened a handful of times. I have 3 to get organised and find the only way to keep everyone (me included) getting ready and not getting distracted by other things is to have races, competitions and use timers. I'm not strict about being up by a certain time because I think sleep is important. Instead we work out how much time we have and how many things need to be done. Then we know how much time we have for each job. When the timer goes off that task needs to be finished. We also race to see who is the first ready (it's never me). There are no prizes but nobody seems to care. These things tend to make mornings happier and less stressful for us. Good luck.

  28. Naamah says

    I've been teaching full time since our daughter was 5 months old and we still struggle to be out of the door by 7.15am. Needs change so frequently that any routine that is set up seems to be defunct a month or two down the track. The way we have found it works best is to really have jobs. Hubby showers with Riley while I eat and do lunches. I get her dressed and then shower while Riley has down time (so it's not a screaming rushed, dreaded routine) and he feeds chickens and does the garden. Then I get her breakfasted while he eats, there is a mass teeth brushing routine and then we fang out the door. As she has gotten older (she is now 2) she does certain things to help - shoes on, water bottle and hat in bag, toys tidy. So I guess our key word is TEAMWORK with COMMUNICATION linked in. Together it works - most of the time.

  29. San says

    I basically throw everything my son needs in his pre-school. Into a bag. The night before. And after being late for work myself more than a couple of times, I've decided that skipping that morning bath from time to time is acceptable. :P And yes, I have a baby to prep too... so Mummy's usually the one to go to work all disheveled and nude-faced. Haha!

  30. Sarah says

    I remember as a kid having to put out my school clothes the night before. Sometimes my mom would even have me curl my hair the night before! I do the same thing, minus the hair curling. My babes are too little. But, I do pack lunches, set out clothing (for myself, even) make bottle, defrost baby food and make baby cereal, and I pack the diaper bag and backpacks the night before. Morning of my husband and I tag-team the kiddies, and encourage our 2 year old to do as much by himself as possible, like washing his hands and getting his own shoes...and on extra helpful days he finds mine, too!

  31. Kate says

    The kids have their own coat closet with a place for everything within easy reach. In their bedroom their clothes are easily accessible. I read 'Organized Simplicity' and took the '40 bags in 40 days' clean up challenge and we have simplified our house, keeping only the essentials and things we love. This has made daily living much easier and family life more harmonious. While packing their knapsacks the night before we discuss what they will be doing the next day and what they will need to take with them. This prepares the boys for the next day and makes the morning routine faster. When tucking them in at night they decide what they want for breakfast with very creative suggestions some times.

  32. JJ says

    I try to do as much as possible the night before to relieve some of the pressure in the morning. Good luck!

  33. Leigh says

    We try and have a snack on the way. It helps with the final push to get out the door and makes the walk to school go faster.

  34. The Orchard says

    This could not come at a better time! Just this morning, I did a post about our new "Organization Station" in our foyer. We created it to make after school and before school time easier. This morning, our girls each checked their mesh baskets and put the items from their baskets (planners, home reading) into their backpacks. It used to be me doing that job, or we would all be rushing around trying to find all the needed items. It was so helpful to have all the pertinent things for school in one central place. It truly did make getting out of the house this morning much easier! Here is a link to the post so you can see the "Organization Station". http://triciaorchard.blogspot.com/2012/01/organization-station.html Thanks so much for the giveaway - and open internationally, too! Yay! Cheers, Tricia

  35. Erin says

    Starting early!! But more seriously - packing as much as you can the night before - teaching the girls (2 & 4) to do as much as they can independently (visuals like yours are fab), and - keeping calm. Getting dressed is our biggest hurdle (Miss 4 is a fashionista and I've *no* idea where it came from as it certainly wasn't me!!), so I have to stay calm then when negotiating what can be worn (keeping it appropriate for the weather which is constantly changing in Sydney!) or it all just escalates. We get dressed first as we have a two-storey house, so do what we need to upstairs and then head down for breakfast and then have a toothbrush & toothpaste downstairs for after brekky. On days when we have to get out really early, I make a sandwich the night before and the girls have a sandwich and a non-spillable drink in the car on the way. Awesome giveaway :) How exciting that Immy is starting school!

  36. Sarah says

    I find doing as much preparation as possible the night before its the by far the best tip. Also, part of our bedtime routine is to talk about the great day we have had, and also to tell them what we are doing the next day. Eg. "Its Monday tomorrow, so we will take Chloe to school then we will go to playgroup and see your friends..." I find this really helps - the child goes to bed looking forward to the next day with an understanding of what will take place. This "plan for the day" helps them to get up in the morning and be motivated to move through the morning routine and get out the door on time, so they can do their fun activity.

  37. Ángeles says

    Obviously the most important thing is to have as Little as possible to do in the morning...leave as much as you can ready the night before!! In the morning even of i'm stressed out trying to do everything on time, i try to make sure the kids feel a relaxed atmosphere. Getting them in a bad modo and making them hurry will only make things worse!! And making things really clear for them is the key... They should know before hand what's going on, what each One is supposed to be doing and where, and for how long everyone's going!!!

  38. Rachel says

    Giving my son 5 minutes of ‘Special Time’ is the magic trick in our house. I give the baby to my partner, put the kitchen timer on for 5 or 10 minutes and enthusiastically do WHATEVER my son wants for that time (the only exception being if it would hurt/damage something or someone). I shine all my warmth and love and attention his way. I don’t interupt this time for anything – I don’t answer the phone, talk to my partner or quickly tidy up something. I just focus on my son. Some mornings we just play with the marble game or his train set, other times it’s pillow fights and horsey back rides. This daily dose of attention helps my son feel loved and important. When he feels connected like this the morning runs smoothly. On the mornings when I don’t manage to do Special Time we get our far share of dilly dallying, refusing to get dressed and calling me poo poo head ……..it’s his way of telling me all is not well in his world and that he needs to feel more connected.

  39. Maddie says

    Making sure my keys / phone / wallet are in a location that I will remember that morning! (I am the reason for morning lateness - I can never find my stuff!)

  40. cassy says

    my after reading most of these i must be the most unorganised mum on here!!! 3eeek! I havet finished labeling or getting school books nor have i got uniforms nor shoes yet! The one thing i can do tho is be out the door at 8am. On a school and dayccare day. Everything is put out the night before on the couch, uniforms clothes shoes socks. Lunches are made the night before. I get up and hour earlier than the boys n get myself organised first. Dress make up organised for work. Have breakfast ready but not cooked or milked. Kids up. Get dressed, feed em. Whist they are eating pack there bag. 20mins for cartoons n out the door. Ok well i admit having a 5yrr old with aspergers it all has to be routine n run like clockwork. On days where something isnt right it goes into melt down mode. (just means no cartoons) well maybe i will go get school stuff organised now!

  41. Janelle Baine says

    We all have a job/s we need to do in the morning that helps everyone to get out on time.

  43. Mum-me says

    Thanks for the chance to win this great giveaway! My best tip for getting to school on time is to minimise distractions - no TV, no computer, no DS or mobile phone games, and no toys UNTIL they are ready for school. Also, pack everything in lunchboxes except sandwiches the night before. Then it's all packed (in fridge if necessary) and all you have to do is make a fresh sandwich in the morning and pop in an ice brick in needed.

  44. Lara says

    I think the biggest influence on my family's morning routine is the time I have got myself to bed the night before!! We have a routine, visual charts etc and they are great, but if I am super-tired it is much harder to employ the maturity and patience it often takes to set a good tone for the day for the whole family. I also find I use music a lot to set a tone and create energy and regulate moods. My husband is drawn to very melancholy music but I have had to ban it in the morning after realising it was bringing the kids and I down: We started whining along with the music... Light, upbeat music is now in!

    • Rachel says

      I love this - oh so true, it doesn't matter how organised we are, if we are tired, grumpy or distant from our kids, there is just no way they'll get through the morning routine smoothly. Upbeat music is a great idea, I bet it helps everyone feel good, I'll definitely be adding this to our mornings. Thanks.

  45. Genny says

    As I venture back to teaching this year my organizational skills need to be right up there. I have a 2.5 yr old and a 1.5yr old and getting them and myself ready for day care and work is sometimes chaotic ( I have done some temp teaching while on maternity leave) alas: I have some general tips and tricks we are all up by 6ish which means that lunches, snacks and bottles all prepared night before. My husband irons all clothes (ex navy submariner 14 years so highly organized and extremely tidy helps:) ) toy room is closed so everything isn't strung across house. Instead I have about 4 tubs of non messy ie no small pieces that I leave on family room floor for girls to play with while I get dressed make beds etc. I even have a small tub of toys I even have one I use in bathroom when I'm doing my hair place it in bath and they are happy to play. I do believe that the more you can prep night before the easier it is in the morning especially for those unplanned things like a vomiting child or one that needs a whole change before you are about to walk out the door.

  46. suzanne says

    In the mornings I get the kids up 45 min before we need to go and tv is not allowed. We also aim to get there 10 min early so we have a little leeway.

  47. Erica says

    Like most families, we do as much prep work as we possibly can the evening before. What I do that helps keep me on task is set reminder alarms on my smartphone. Each alarm has a different ringtone set to remind me (and the kids) where we should be on our morning schedule. Not only does it help keep me focused on what we should have accomplished in order to arrive on time to our first destination of the day but it helps to keep my kids motivated. They have even learned what each ringtone signifies so they can tell if they are running behind and need to speed up. Another thing that I find helps is a verbal countdown. They usually get a 10 minute and a 5 minute warning letting them know how much longer they have until we leave the house. I find the verbal ”warning” helps prepare them for the next step iour routine.....making sure we all get out the door and into the car with all their,”supplies and equipment” needed for the day. Once everyone and everything is in the car ready to go I can finally relax and enjoy our morning commute together...unrushed! :-)

  48. Erin Maree says

    In our house we find doing the following helps us all get out of the house on time (though we are all at different schools!): -Make lunch the night before (lunch for us is a frozen bottle of water, and then two of the following: a piece of fruit, a nut bar or a small home made treat, plain pop corn popped or crackers. Then a sandwich or salad (vary it!) for lunch.). -Lay out the uniform the day before (check the weather forecast that night!). -No TV in the mornings (this helps so much!). -The kitchen (main) clock is set 5 minutes forward (this really helps too). - Near the door list all the days of the school week and what activity happens and then what equipment is required for example say if on Wednesday is Library then you will need your library books and so on. -Pack the school bag the night before if you have time. All these things really help for us :)

  49. Amanda Elizabeth from Amanda's Mummy Jeans says

    Hi there Christie, Some treat is a good way to get them out the door, a lovingly baked muffin to tie their hearts back home- lunches done the night before, bags are checked galore, Organisation is the key for my family and for me, an early start, plays a good part, to avoid getting to school minus something and a heavy heart!! Thanks for the opportunity xoxoxo

  50. Marie says

    So far it has just been us and our little man and he went to 3 year old kinder last year so we started on the routine thing. But this year, 4 year old kinder here we come and a newborn. Let's just say that this is how I imagine we are going to tackle the year. Definitely night-before preparation, little man will choose his clothes for the next day and have shoes, socks and jocks ready to go on the end of his bed. I will take care of packing his bag, including drink and snack. I will also make sure everything I need has a place in our house, this way I don't waste time trying to find things. Having said this I haven't taken into account bubs have I. Well since bubs isn't here yet I don't know what he or she will be like but being the proud bias mum I am, I am predicting a minimal fuss baby, who doesn't cry much, who feeds at predictable times that will fit in perfectly with how each day needs to run ha ha ha ha ha, I wish! I guess since we're not actually there yet, I am just going to do my best to be organised, make sure my little man starts to learn what the routine is and that bubs is ready for one roller coaster ride. Good luck everyone!

  51. Antonietta says

    My children have a time limit when to get up and be dressed, usually the youngest (who starts school this year) is already up. I myself get up earlier than the kids (I am all ready when they awake having dressed, had my coffee and breakfast), and prepare their lunch, snacks I prepare the night before. I get them breakfast, teeth are brushed and faces washed. Since my youngest is already in routine, I envisage not too much trouble as he knows what to expect. We leave on time everyday and I'm proud of them for this. In all honesty, sometimes it doesn't always go to plan, but that's the exception :)

  52. Carrie Gardner says

    Prepare what you can the night before and allow half an hour longer than how long you think it will take you to get ready to leave. Children aren't always co-operative at the best of times and don't always have a clear understanding of 'being somewhere on time'. It's better to be ready early and have time to spare than rushing out the door with that horrible feeling that you've forgotten something!

  53. Miss LittleNotebook says

    As an expat living in Singapore it is not uncommon that most kids start school somewhere around 2 years old (crazy!). Getting the family out the door on time, when you're in the midst of toddler taming and nappy changing is a tough one. My best tip is to get up 1/2 an hour before the kids wake (allowing me time to put away the dishes from the night before, have a shower and get dressed and make the bed) and to do as much preparation the night before as possible (packing school bags, filling up drink bottles, preparing snacks, making sure the bag has sunscreen/hat/towel in, choosing outfits for the next day, filling in forms etc). The less I have to do in the morning, the easier (and sometimes) less stressful it seems to be trying to get everyone out the door.

  55. Trish says

    Just what I need with two starting school in the same size for everything as well pretty much (except shoes .5 difference and 1 width) Start with a launch station (oodles of blogposts about it) - - have everything there ready in one spot, with hooks for bags/hats, spot for shoes - laminated morning & afternoon routine cards and photos of what to wear what day {on a whiteboard or cork board} and what to take (library/home readers bag/news item) ! Saves time looking for things (for two) and less stress if everything is in one place.

  56. Rachel says

    This will be our first year of having to get out of the house routinely. But we have the above 'morning routine' cards ready and have been practicing for a while. I'm sure it will also involve setting an alarm and keeping a sense of humor! I too love the fun music idea! Will get interesting when no 3 arrives in about 10 weeks...

  57. jodie says

    Making sure we schedule enough quiet time to eat breakfast in the sun and wander to school stopping to smell the flowers is vital for us. Removing distractions such as tv from this precious time of the day is the best way for us to do this.

  60. mamaUK says

    If you have a pre-schooler who can be slow getting dressed in the morning, suggest singing a nursery rhyme while she/he gets dressed and turn it into a race, the clothes needs to be on before the end of the nursery rhyme! Or, another great tip is to 'make the clothes talk' to get your pre-schooler dressed...'Mrs T.shirt really wants to give your tummy a kiss, you better pull it on quick.' It works everytime with my three year old!

  61. Valerie says

    We always pick our the next day's outfit before heading to bed. It eliminates a lot of potential angst the next morning!

  62. Jackie says

    Well, we haven't had to do it yet... we're starting in the fall! I'm not sure how we're going to get out the door on time. My mom used lots of singing with us. Not my fave! Maybe I'll try your picture routine!!

  64. Helen says

    Set a routine from day 1: No television in the morning. Breakfast, teeth and get dressed so there is time to PLAY. Grab your prelabelled lunch box and school bag and buckle up ready for the day.

  65. Kerryanne Bourke says

    We get ready 30 minutes before we need to! its the only way I can get my husband ready in time (the kids aren't the problem he is!) then after we are ready I make sure we leave 10 minutes before we have to; again its the only way I can get him into the car on time and after all that is said and done we usually get to where we need to about 5 minutes early if not right on time

  66. Lindsay says

    My tip is that I get everything I can ready the night before, lunch in the fridge and backpack etc by the door. I also lay out my son's clothes the night before, when he is older/more interested he can choose his outfit for the next day. I find that in the morning if I am constantly asking him to hurry and get ready he takes longer. So our deal is that he needs to get up and get dressed, eat breakfast and brush his teeth and then he can watch a Thomas episode until we leave or he can play. His choice but he knows when it's time to leave it's time to leave and he can finish his show when we get home or he can continue playing where he left off (He doesn't have to clean up his toys in the morning).

  67. Kirsty Plumridge says

    Mummy gets up early, lays out all the clothes; Makes the lunches and the breakfast; And in the shower goes. Quickly gets ready, checks on the school bag; Rouses all the children; And then begins her nag. Get your knickers on, your socks, Your clothes on, don't stop Keep talking until you hit the car and then you can drop!

  69. Hannah says

    My children know the morning routine. Have your breakfast and try to keep clean. I make the lunch the night before. The bags are lined up at the door. The babies feed, the kids are dressed. A morning coffee is the best. Its out the door now, in the car our school trip is not very far. The kids jump out, run in the gate. The bell has rung and we weren't late.

  70. Candice says

    Im not looking forward to getting my eldest son out the door to Kindy as my struggle with him is eating. He can take up to an hour (some mornings more) to eat his breakfast. I have to make sure I have prepared his lunch and morning tea, uniform laid out ironed and ready to go and bag packed the night before. He is a morning person so I will have no trouble getting him out of bed, bed then made by him (with a bit of help by me) and straight into breakfast. No tv in this house in the mornings as its bad enough as it is without the distraction of the tv. I think being prepared the night before the the way to go to avoid running around in the mornings.

  71. bubble936 says

    cook, clean and orgnise at night so that you can take bath, eat breakfast and leave the door on time...

  72. Thedharmawheel says

    The night before...... Make sure the bags are packed and in the car Lay out clothes and shoes set out breakfast do showers In the morning i get her to dress as soon as she gets up, eat breakfast then brush her teeth and hair. Very occasionally we've been known to take toast in the car with us if its been a hurried morning!

  73. Sumei Wrigley says

    My daughter has a 'School and Activities Roster' where she can see/read. On it there is a section of what is expected of her every day before school and after school. It's not a long list, but she does enjoy going to the check list and saying, 'check!' For example, after school, all that is required of her is 3 things, 1.take out lunch box and take to kitchen, 2. put shoes away in shoe drawer and place socks in laundry basket, 3. put school bag in designated box. Soon, this becomes a habit and once I stop reminding her (of course there are days where you still need to remind) then I add on another responsibility (would keep to max 5). But keep it simple and realistic. And reward verbally, not with treats as they need to learn that some responsibilities are just expected. We love school and hope you and your kiddies do too! All the best!

  74. Jessica says

    We have an ikea cube bookcase next to the front door with large square baskets in each cube. The baskets have the names and photos of who they belong to on the front. Backpacks, shoes, hats, library books, swimming gear (everything that moves in and out of the house) is in everyone's baskets. This includes Mummy and Daddy's hats, shoes and even Mummy's handbag. I check these before bed and ensure everything is there for the morning rush, make sure to put fresh socks in as well. One of the best things about this system is that everything is put back in the individual baskets as the kids walk in the door so it isn't tracked through the house and lost. Even my 10 week old has his own basket! I love the tip about getting your kids ready in the car. I'm going to try this especially for hair!! :D

  76. Angie McLaren says

    I like doing a week worth of lunch box bags with the lunch box stuff in them then just have to grab fruit sometimes I even have frozen sandwiches for the week just have to grab the bag the fruit and the sandwich and good to go also means we don't run out towards end of week

  77. Amanda says

    Most of the stuff is done and organised the night before with my daughters' help. She enjoys being involved but my secret trick is to put the clock forward fifteen minutes for those unpredictable mornings.

  78. edele bignell says

    our best tip for getting everyone out of the house in the morning is getting organized the night before - my girls ( aged 3 and 5) both at montessori school near by, help prepare their lunch boxes , pack thei day bags and pick their morning clothes - oh an put their shoes by the door too - by doing it this way we took half the hassles away so in the morning there is way less to do - the biggest things I as mum do is also get myself ready the night before so I am less stressed and an early rise gives us all more time - i hope i am settign good foundations for the future - so if i had your lovely cards half would be used the night before and half the next morning - and how awesome they would be to foster my girls independence too - they look awesome and BTW hope i too win your competition !x

  80. Sam says

    I have two little guys who need some extra help in the mornings. Master 11 who has Down syndrome is easier to get going if he knows there's a special noe from Mum waiting under hs cereal bowl, and Master 9 who is on the Autism spectrum needs all clothes laid out and breakfast chosen the night before. Every kid has their own needs. And so do Mums! I make their lunches a week at a time and freeze them. Works great in summer, not so much in winter :)

  82. Lisa says

    My best tip is to have a nutritious but portable breakfast ready. Something like a multigrain or wholemeal bacon & egg muffin .... it looks smaller therefore less pressure and if completely necessary it can move locations until it is finished. Good luck tomorrow! :)

  83. Debbie O'Donnell says

    I just make sure I have paid for uniforms before they start back, and enough money left over for start of term to pay for school fees & book packs...

  84. Linda says

    ok, so this one is a bit mean, but I have been known to set the clocks in the house half an hour ahead of the actual time on school mornings

  85. shylee says

    to get out of the house on time, i have found if I am awake and dressed and ready before the kids wake up, I can focus on them and therefore we are out of the house much faster than if I am worrying about myself as well, which leaves them to hang out a little and waste time.

  86. Joanna says

    Get yourself dressed and ready to leave the house and have all clothes and bags prepared and ready to go for the kids before waking them; that way, you only have to get children dressed/ fed before you leave the house.

  87. Alison says

    Simply get as much ready as possible the night before, and in the morning in a flash, you'll be out the door!

  88. Rita Vella says

    Organise what you can the night before - lunches, bags, uniforms. I also make up a couple of meals on the weekends so that evenings are freed up to organise for busy school/work days!

  89. Chloe says

    If you work or have children that need to go to school early and you usually have a sleep in every day then set an alarm clock for 6 or 7 o'clock and the night before that you get as much done as possible like e.g get your clothes out ready for tomorrow and sit them at the end of your bed and if you wear make up or use something like clearasell you get night cream instead so you don't wast as much time putting cream on in the morning and you also look fresh in the morning and instead of looking for what head band or hair band your going to wear tomorrow lay it out on the bathroom basin so you have it worked out for tomorrow and don't forget to figure out what hair style your going to wear tomorrow so you don't spend so much time on your hair.

  90. Sally Cattell says

    Ring the home phone. Wait for one child to answer, when they do simply say "And can you wake up your brother?"

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