Here are my top 5 time-saving tips for back to school season! 

*Thank you to Canyon Bakehouse for sponsoring this post!

Back to School is always a hectic time of year for parents, but this year may have additional complications with some schools returning to the classroom while others continue with online schooling from home. Some towns are adjusting school schedules with half days in the classroom while others have announced that kids will stay home through the end of 2020.  If you are a parent with kiddos in different schools, you may even have different schedules and requirements within your own home. Regardless of whether your kids are learning around your kitchen table or they may be back in the classroom, we can all agree that this time of year is busy and places a lot of demands on parents. I wanted to share some of the time-saving tips that we have created in our household that may be helpful for you this fall!

1. Wake up early so you have at least an hour to yourself:

It’s such a game changer when I have an hour to myself to plan out my day, drink my coffee, and get organized. I also try to prioritize making myself breakfast during this time, since it’s often too crazy to eat at the same time as the kids while getting them out the door/ready for the day. One of my go-to breakfasts is a bagel sandwich: Canyon gluten free bagel + fried egg, ham, tomato, everything bagel seasoning, and almond milk cream cheese. It takes 5 minutes to throw together and leaves me feeling energized and ready for the day!

2. Involve the kids in making breakfast:

We love doing a “bagel bar” where they can add their own toppings or create bagel sandwiches. My kids love the Canyon gluten free bagels with ham, cream cheese, and tomato! Simply having to pop their bagels into the toaster and then letting them handle the rest saves so much time on busy mornings. They also think it’s so fun to add different toppings everyday, so it’s a win-win situation!

3. Prep lunches and fill water bottles the night before:

It saves so much time in the mornings when I make the kids’ lunches and get their water bottles cleaned and re-filled the night before. I make sandwiches, cut fruits and veggies, and keep their lunch boxes in the fridge. In the morning I add in any last minute or fresh items before they head out the door.

4. Use a chore/accountability chart:

I’ve found that my kids are motivated and feel sense of accomplishment when I use this chart. They love helping me check off each item. At the end of each week, if they have completed everything they get to choose a special treat like ice cream or a piece of candy. I found this chart on Amazon.

5. Have the kids help with picking out outfits/laying out clothes the night before:

This has helped us have smoother mornings in so many ways. When the kids pick out their outfit the night before, there is no question as to what they should wear. They know exactly what to put on before brushing their teeth. This has been especially helpful for my very fashion-conscious 7 year old who loves to change outfits/her mind multiple times a day 🙂 I just have them lay out their folded clothes at the end of their bed before heading to sleep.

Ok, I hope these tips were helpful for you as we prepare for the craziness back to school. I have really enjoyed having so much extra time and leisurely mornings with my kids over the last 6 months, but part of me is ready to get back to having a little structure and routine. I hope you have a wonderful start to the school year!

xo,

Mary