How to Make Back to School Time as Easy as Possible

The bank holiday is over and school is definitely on the horizon.  Are you ready?  Follow these tips to get back to school sorted and everything under control for your most organised September yet!


Whether you can't wait to get back into a routine or your feeling sad that the long summer holiday is over, get back into the rhythm of school days with ease using our tips and ideas.  Don't feel overwhelmed with all there is to do, just have a read then make your lists and get organised.

Buy Online

Make collecting all those school supplies and uniforms easy on yourself and the kids and order online.  With good weather forecast for the rest of the week, get out in your garden or on a day trip instead of heading to the shops.  There's still time to make some amazing summer memories, and who wants to be stuck in a car or busy shops anyway?!

It may be tempting to grab some uniform on your next supermarket shop, but for uniform that lasts we recommend M&S.

For everything from backpacks and lunch boxes to pens, pencils and glue sticks, Amazon is hard to beat for all the back to school supplies you need.  They have everything so you can get it all in one go, and even if you're ordering in front of Netflix at 10pm you know it isn't going to take long to arrive.  (If you haven't already, we highly recommend investing in Prime for speedy next day delivery and great TV too!)

If you're looking to make your life more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, we found some great eco-friendly back to school supplies that work brilliantly, look great, and help save the planet.

Related posts:

How to Manage Back to School in 5 Easy Steps
9 Steps to Get Ready for Back to School
How to Stop Your Child Losing Things at School


Set Boundaries

After a relaxed summer, it's time to start getting back into a routine, with bedtimes getting a bit earlier, getting up, ready and out of the house before 10am, and setting some limits on screentime.

If your kids have been allowed free access to their devices this summer, it's time to start setting some boundaries.  A total ban come school time will possibly incite a rebellion of monstrous proportions, so there’s no time like the present to start limiting screen time and creating boundaries for device time.

We love TechDen, a combination of an app + charging station that stores and charges devices when not in use.  The best thing about it is that devices in The Den are locked and inaccessible so kids aren't seeing, asking, or accessing devices when they shouldn't, like at bedtime or dinner time.

Look out for more guidance on meal planning and family meal times in September.

Related Post: How to limit Kids Screen Time the Easy Way



Plan Your Routine

What's that quote, if you fail to plan you are planning to fail?  The best way to get a head start on back to school is by making your plans now.  I spoke in this post about creating a family command centre in your kitchen or hallway, but here are some more top tips for getting super organised for busy school day mornings:
  • Lay everything out the day before (uniform, backpacks, book bags, lunch boxes)
  • Make overnight oats for a delicious, nutritious breakfast that will keep everyone going
  • Aim to get up an hour before everyone else so you have some precious morning time before the rush begins
  • Try to get everyone else up at least an hour before they need to be out the door - better sleep helps
  • Stick the radio or an audio book on to wake everyone up - it doesn't have the hypnotic effect of TV
  • Treat yourself to a decent coffee machine to keep you going while you get the herd together
Back to school is a marathon not a sprint, and getting some of these routines in place now will make life so much easier for you in the long run.

Related posts:

How to Make Your Monthly Calendar Super Organised
How to Kick-Start a Good Day
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19 Simple Organization Tips for Busy Families


Look Back on Summer

Take a look at the summer bucket list you created a few weeks ago following your summer family meeting - did you do everything you wanted to do?  Are there still some things you want to do and places you want to visit?  Make the most of the next few days - how can you and your family make the most of the last days of summer?

There's still time to enjoy some lovely days out.  Go to your favourite park, have a picnic outside, visit a splash park, or have a big day out to celebrate a wonderful summer.

Take some time to put together your summer memory box or scrap book with all those precious summer memories.


Look Ahead to Autumn

Summer may be coming to an end, but that means a whole new season is about to begin!  September often means an Indian summer so plan some fun after school trips and activities, as well as some great family weekends.

There are plenty of wonderful things to do in October and November too, so sit down with the kids and make an autumn bucket list.  Recent studies found that children spent only a few minutes enjoying unstructured play outdoors, but up to 7 hours a day on screens.  Time to start plannign some fun outdoor activities.


Some ideas for fun things to do outdoors in autumn:
  • Apple picking
  • Have a camp fire or bonfire
  • Play football
  • Walking in nature
  • Visit a pumpkin patch
  • Playing in leaves in the woods (there's a reason it's called fall)
  • Building dens
  • Collect and play conkers
  • Forage for blackberries, hazelnuts
  • Fly a kite
  • Make a bird feeder
  • Collect leaves
  • Play in mud
  • Go on a bike ride
  • Go to a Guy Fawkes event
Related posts:

9 Habits to Bring Joy to Your Life this Autumn
Free Days Out in Autumn
The Best Places to Visit in October

Yes, that stressful back-to-school time is approaching but follow these guides and tips and you'll be ready, organised and in control.  Enjoy the end of summer with your kids and get ready for the new season to come.

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