Morning Routines

12 Back-to-School Tips: The Ultimate Survival Guide for Busy Mornings

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Rocket drawing, pencils, apple and books

The school run’s back but don’t worry, we’ve got your mornings covered. Whether your little one’s starting school or heading back after the holidays, these simple back to school tips can help everyone ease back into the swing of things – calm, happy, and (hopefully) on time!

Having a productive morning routine is one of the many ways that can help you have a positive back-to-school experience. Little wins can make a big difference - from getting into a morning routine before school starts, to sparking smiles with playful learning, and keeping a back-up breakfast at the ready, these simple steps can help everyone start the day happy and ready to go!

1. Try getting into a ‘morning routine’ before school starts

Many kids thrive on routine, so start the school-day rhythm a little before term begins. Bring bedtimes forward, ditch the late lie-ins, and practice getting up, dressed, and ready to go, even if you’re actually just staying home. A little prep now makes those first real mornings feel much easier.

2. Ease back into school-mode with playful learning

Help your child ease back into learning mode with playful activities at home. It doesn’t have to be all books and pencils. Try cooking or baking together, where measuring ingredients and reading the recipe becomes part of the learning. Or get creative with colourful flash cards and mind maps. A little low-pressure learning can help switch their brain back into school mode.

3. Have a back-up breakfast to hand

Sharing breakfast together such as a delicious bowl of Shreddies® is a delicious start to the day. But, if the morning happens to take a twist, it’s good to have some quick on-the-go breakfast ideas up your sleeve. These simple options make it easy to enjoy breakfast, even when it’s happening on the move.

4. Refresh their knowledge before school

Help older kids ease back into learning with fun, low-pressure activities that revisit last year’s topics. Link lessons to real life so they see how useful their knowledge really is. It’s a simple way to boost focus and motivation before school starts.

Check out our top distraction busters for some inspiration.

5. Create a checklist

A clear checklist helps kids stay on track, especially in the rush of busy mornings. Include basics like:

Brushing teeth

Getting dressed

Washing face

Having a quick shower

Packing lunch

Packing school and PE bag

Grabbing coats

Filling water bottles

This will help to build independence, whilst also keeping everything and everyone moving.

6. Come up with irresistible incentives for the little ones

Setting incentives is a great way to give kids a little more motivation to get through their morning routine, especially if there are any negative emotions towards starting school. Let your kids know that if they check everything off the checklist then they get to have a special treat like going to the park when they get back from school, or their favourite cereal for breakfast. Make sure that, if incentives are promised, you make a little more time for your kids to enjoy them.

7. Make sure you are prepared with all the essentials

Back-to-school prep is more than just ticking off the shopping list. Try the uniform on ahead of time to check it still fits and feels comfortable. Stock up early on stationery and supplies, and get your child involved so they feel ready and excited for the new term.

8.Get things organised the night before

To make the morning routine less stressful, prepare things the night before. After dinner, for example, prepare lunch boxes and leave them in the fridge overnight. After you clear away after dinner, set the breakfast table for the next morning. Ask family members to bath, shower, and wash hair the night before, if possible, to avoid that getting ready in the morning stress.

9. Encourage a positive mindset about the new term ahead

Talk to your child about the upcoming new term and find out if they have any concerns and what they are looking forward to. Make sure you let them know that they can always speak to their teacher, or come to you, if they are worried about anything at school.

Talk about all the fun activities your child, and their friends, will be doing at school, so they can see the new term as an exciting opportunity, rather than something to be worried and anxious about. Making sure to stay optimistic and constructive during the morning routine, helps set the right mood just before school starts.

Bowls of Cheerios on the table with a pair of sunglasses, fruit and a star chart

10. Have a good breakfast before the day ahead

Waking up early can be a challenge, but a positive start helps kids feel more motivated about the day ahead. Creating a morning they can look forward to, beginning with a balanced breakfast, can make all the difference. Looking for a place to start?

Ready to brighten up breakfast time? Try serving up a delicious breakfast cereal with fruit, yoghurt and a glass of water. These ideas also work great on weekends too!:

Multigrain Cheerios® Cereal - Quick to pour and fun to eat, these crunchy little O’s are high in fibre from oats, wheat and barley.

Shreddies® - Make the mornings feel even more welcoming with these malty, woven squares.

Go Free® Gluten Free Corn Flakes - Bring everyone to the table with the Go Free® corn flakes, offering tasty, gluten free cereals that make busy mornings easier to enjoy together.

Nesquik® Cereals - Start the day with a bowl full of fun! These crunchy cocoa balls swirl a little chocolatey magic into breakfast, helping sleepy mornings turn into smiles in seconds.

Want more ways to make mornings run smoothly? Explore our easy breakfast ideas for kids to kick-start the day with a happy table.

11. No tech at the table!

It is important to have those family moments, especially if you are all away from one another for the whole day. Try encouraging no phones or tablets at the breakfast table before heading off to school, and work.

Breakfast time is the perfect chance to connect. Use it to chat about the day ahead, favourite lessons, new friends, or even what’s on the lunch menu. These little conversations turn the morning into a moment of calm and set a happy tone for the day.

12. Don’t forfeit your quality time together

Try to carve out family time, whether that be of an evening, after all school work is complete, or at the weekend, to wind down and spend some quality parent and child time together. Why not try out some drawing together?

Going back to school is a transition for all family members, not just the kids. But with a consistent and productive morning routine, the stresses of getting ready in the morning for school can be wiped away. Of course, there may be times where the morning routine strays from the usual, but that is to be expected.

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