The school holidays are great, but they do tend to mess up routines. If your house is anything like mine, bedtime has gone out the window as has the morning routine, for the kids at least. That throws out mealtimes and I am truly dreading getting back into the school routine almost as much as the kids are! So here are some simple ways to get back into the school routine quickly.

Sign up for our free Newsletter stuffed full of ideas, competitions and offers. PS Did we mention it’s free? Please share this with your family & friends if you liked it!

#1. Healthy Kids = Happy Kids (and parents)

As children get back into the classroom their immune system is bound to be tested. Keeping them healthy and in a regular school routine is essential for learning, friendships and their wellbeing. So to help you get back into the school routine more quickly, re-instate a reasonable bedtime, rising time and mealtimes in the weeks leading up to back to school. This will reduce the chances of them being tired or rundown heading back to a new school year.

#2. School Routine – Repeat, Repeat, Repeat!

Children learn by repetition and most love order. By having a school routine in place from day 1 and sticking to it, you are creating order and avoiding clashes in the morning, after school and at bedtime.

For younger children you could create a fun routine sheet to print out that they can easily follow. Use pictures or simple words with the order they are to do things in the morning, after school and before bed. From putting on their clothes, to eating breakfast, cleaning their teeth, to snacks, homework, tv or computer time and a bedtime routine, spell it out and I promise it will make for easier school mornings and evenings. And it also empowers your children to learn early how to create a good routine.

#3. A Place for Everything

Set up a dedicated rack for bags, coats and shoes and encourage every member of the family to use their space so they are not running around on school mornings looking for lost items.

I also have a homework supplies box which is full of pencils, pens, erasers, colouring pencils and other items the children may need for homework. Our routine on school days is that they come in have a snack and do their homework. Having everything to hand speeds up this process and combats arguments as they know this is the routine and they have everything they need to hand.

You could also create a lunch box shelf in the fridge and cupboard where children can create their own lunches either the night before, for non perishable items and quickly in the morning for perishable items.

#4. Homework Station

If you can, have a dedicated homework station and schedule, it will really help everyone settle into the school routine quickly.

Get the kids to organise the station and agree together the routine for homework. With their input, things should run smoothly from day 1.

You might also enjoy reading How to Keep Kids Focused with a Homework Station

#5. Stock Up the Freezer

If you have some time before getting back to school, try and cook up a few dinners that can be frozen and defrosted ready for busy school days. As you all get used to the new school routine, having those to hand can help on days when you may get delayed at work or homework takes longer than expected or you simply decide to head to the beach/park/playground on the journey home.

#6. If It Can Be Done the Night Before…

I already mentioned a lunchbox station. These are great for getting kids into the routine of preparing their own lunches for school, which also means they are more likely to eat them! And can also save time during busy school mornings by adding non perishable items to their lunchbox the night before.

You could also set the table for breakfast the night before. Have everything easily accessible and encourage your children to get their own breakfast to make mornings run smoothly.

They can also lay their clothes out and that combined with their shelves/hooks/boxes for coats, bags and shoes means you will be back into the school routine more quickly than you think.

You May Also Enjoy: 100 Healthy Lunch Box Ideas Your Kids Will Love and Download Our Free Lunch Box Planner

If you have any tips on getting back into the school routine quickly. Please share them with us in the comments box below.