7 Tips for the After School Routine

At the beginning of last school year, our routine looked something like this:

4:00 - kids get off bus, 2^nd grader bounds off the bus, repels off every piece of furniture and slings backpack into living room sending library books flying out and under couch (where they stayed for many frustrating weeks). Kindergartner gets off bus with hair clip hanging from two hairs, and flops back pack down in middle of kitchen floor and cries out, "I'm going to starve to death".

4:30 - In the mean time, an unprepared mom tries to assemble a snack out left-over enchiladas...kids opt for ice cubes instead. Frazzled mom gets homework started and forgets to read notes from teachers.

5:30 - Both children are still starving from ice-cube snack and kindergartner is too upset to start her readers. Mom is forced to start thinking about cooking dinner ; What can she make out of left-over enchiladas? Hmmm.

Next day - kids go to school with no lunch money or field-trip permission slips, they were in with the unread notes from the teacher. Ooops.

If you are a mom like me and are always looking for ways to better order your day and multiply your time, here are some practical ideas for one of the most hectic times of the day; the after school routine.

1) Designate a hook, shelf, or cubby for backpacks or after-school bag. This gives them a place that they can put their stuff rather than dumped on the floor or counter.

2) Set up a snack area that is at their level in a cupboard, pantry, or a refrigerator shelf so they can choose a healthy snack on their own.

3) While they are eating their snack, sort through their backpacks and set up their homework in their areas. Sort their homework into two piles, one pile that needs your help and another pile they can do on their own.

4) Designate a clear and neat spot to set up homework equipped with fun "grown up" supplies, like freshly sharpened pencils, tape, calculator, stapler, notepad, anything that will make them feel like homework is as important as mommy and daddy work. Start with the pile of homework that needs parental assistance.

5) Write them a welcome home note on a central chalk board or write it on a post-it note at their snack or homework spot. Let them know they are loved and were missed.

6) Have pre-filled out notes/envelopes with teachers names on them, to quickly write checks and/or put notes into your kid's backpacks.

7) While they are doing the homework that they can do on their own, you can start making dinner from a previously planned menu. : )