It’s time to get the kids launched for a new school year.  As kids grow, your systems and routines must grow as well so you can keep up with busier schedules and heavier homework loads.

To help you stay on top of everything with minimal stress, here’s what we consider to be 5 essential areas to have sorted:

Family Calendar

There should be one master calendar into which all those important dates for the family get entered. We strongly recommend doing this electronically so you can quickly get the dates onto both parents’ calendars with one click. If you have a combo of PC and Mac machines in your family, set up a Google calendar and sync in the cloud – to computers and handhelds all in one go. We can help you with this – just call 2869 9687.

Family Time Map

This is a colour-coded grid showing everyone’s regular appointments, especially relevant for after school and weekend activities. Print it out and hang it on the fridge or a pinboard for everyone to see. Parents, kids and helpers should all know how to read this in order to plan and pack for the next day and discuss occasional changes to the usual schedule.

Entryway

Be sure you and the kids have clearly established places for them to put away their backpacks, lunch sacks, water bottles, activity equipment, sweaters and so on. Designate baskets, hooks, shelves, drawers and cupboards for the various items. For the first couple of weeks, be sure you and/or your helper stand near the front door as the kids come in so you can guide the unpacking process. Shouting doesn’t work; guided practice does.

Kids’ Workspaces

Make sure each child has an ergonomically-sound, pleasant workspace in which to complete homework. This doesn’t have to be a fancy desk in the bedroom. In fact, we prefer to see this happening in a family room/lounge or shared family study so everyone can be closely connected and productive together. All sorts of problems develop when kids are sent off on their own to try and get their homework done. It’s really not the way to go.

Meal Planners

Take a few minutes to write up a list of 10 snacks and 10 lunches your kids like. (Big hint – do this with them if you want the food to be eaten!) Do the same for a month’s worth of family dinners if you’re feeling really ambitious. Print it off each weekend and highlight what you’ll have that week for whoever does the grocery shopping. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy.

Filed under: Family