Whether your kids have already gone back to school or you're preparing them to head back in the next month or so, it's hard to deny this can be a really stressful time. The first day of school can be so exciting, and who doesn't like a fresh start? But it requires a lot of prep work. School supply shopping is no joke!
And then there's all the effort that goes into getting back into your routine. Packing lunches, waking up on time, getting the kids back into the groove of being out the door in the morning, and coming home to work on homework at the end of the day. It's exhausting just to think about it all!
But there are a few ways to make things easier, thanks to a certain app. There seem to be TikTok hacks for everything, and back to school is no exception.
Read on for tips and tricks you can try this fall to make this year's back to school season go more smoothly than ever.
More from CafeMom: Tips To Keep Kids' Physical & Emotional Health in Check as They Head Back to School
Plan Outfits for the Entire Week
Unless your children go to school where uniforms are required, you're going to have to deal with picking out your child's clothes every morning and getting them dressed … and that can be what makes you late getting out the door. Or you're going to have to wait for your older child to finally settle on what they're going to wear, and that's also going to take forever. But if you plan on Sundays — either together or letting your child take the reins — what they're wearing each day of the week, you can speed up the process.
Create a Backpack-Dropping Zone
Will it make you any happier to know that it's not just your kids who dump all their stuff at the front door and run? Fortunately, this hack can help you keep it all organized with hooks and a basket where they can leave their backpack, and the entry to your home won't look like it was hit by a tornado.
Make Alexa the Bad Guy
If you are a mom, there is a very good chance that someone has accused you of nagging, and that can be really hard to take — especially when you're not actually nagging. Instead, just let Alexa take the fall, and listen to this mom explain how to set timed reminders using your device.
Create a Breakfast Station
Another time suck in the mornings is breakfast — and a lot of times, we don't actually have time to make our kids the meal we wish we could provide them. Creating a breakfast bar with grab and go food items and drinks can make it easy for them to get what they need on the run, and it will be out and available to avoid the hassle of trying to find the exact cereal they're hungry for in the pantry.
Help Kids Pack Their Own Lunch
This can save you time and help little ones learn some independence. Set up lunch stations with different food items and instructions, and let them have the freedom to pack their own lunches – while also knowing that they have a solid, balanced meal to eat at school.
Put Homework Supplies in One Place
It can be hard enough to convince our kids to do their homework, but many of them will try to delay it even further by taking their time finding the supplies they need. But not only does this homework station eliminate that time suck, it also keeps everything together and organized when it's time to work on school projects.
More from CafeMom: 5 Tips for Packing School Lunches Kids Will Actually Eat
Help Little Ones Tell Time
It can be really tough to communicate in terms of time with kids who don't really get it as a concept yet, as well as those who haven't learned how to tell time. By coloring on the face of a clock with a dry erase marker and providing a color key, you can color code their routines so they understand what has to get done before school.
Prepare Supplies for the Whole Year
This one is so simple and worth doing if you aren't already and can afford it: When you're buying school supplies for the year, buy an extra pack of everything. That way, when they run out in the middle of the year — and supplies are undoubtedly more expensive — you'll already have what they need at home.
Pack an Emergency Kit for Preteen & Teen Girls
If you have a daughter in middle or high school, this tip is invaluable! Pack a few things they might need in an inconspicuous cosmetic bag to keep in their backpacks. Even if they don't get their periods yet, they might while they're at school, and having a pad on hand can save them a lot of stress — or it might save a friend who is in need.
Help Kids Close Glue More Easily
There are a lot of helpful tips in this video, but this one is helpful for preschoolers and elementary kids who can never quite close their glue bottles and let them dry out or spill all over their backpacks and pencil boxes. Matching up the smile is so easy!
Prepare for Forgotten Lunches Ahead of Time
It's an inevitability that your child is going to forget lunch at least once during the school year, and it might be on a day when you're not able to drop it off to them. Keep some emergency lunch money in their backpack (and when they do forget their lunch, remember to replace the cash in case it happens again).
Watch This Before Shopping for Supplies
There are few people in the world who know school supplies like teachers do, so you might want to watch this video before you start shopping. She points out how important it is to make sure you wait for the supply list from the teacher before you buy anything and to listen to her brand recommendations if you can, because there's a reason teachers always ask for Crayola crayons and Elmer's glue!
More from CafeMom: 14 Awesome Items That Are Sure To Make Back-to-School Easier & More Fun for Everyone
Make Filling Out Forms Easy
Whether you're a twin mom or you have kids who go to the same school, you're going to find yourself filling out the same forms with the same information at the beginning of the year. Instead, do what this mom does: Fill out the first set, photocopy it, and white out the child's name and replace it with your other child's name. Done!
Get Ready for Morning Drop-Off
This mom's tip proved to be controversial in the comments, but that doesn't mean it didn't work! If you have a hard time getting ready and out the door for school drop-off in the morning, simply wear what you're going to wear to drop the kids off as your PJs. This is ideal for moms who stay at home or work from home!
Simplify Shoe Shopping
There is an age (OK, a lot of ages) where it's like pulling teeth to get kids to try on different shoes at the shoe store. Shopping without them isn't usually an option, because you need to know if the shoes will fit, but with this hack, you can actually take a piece of string measured to the size of their foot and leave those kids at home!
