Time-Saving Tips

We've received thousands of after-school organizational tips from busy moms and dads all across the country. We'll be adding more tips soon, but you can start with these helpful ideas.

AFTER SCHOOL TIPS FOR PARENTS

Juggling early morning car pools, after-school activities and evening family time can leave busy moms and dads looking for time-saving solutions now more than ever. Below are some great tips on how to keep up with the busy school year schedule and keep the family on time morning, noon and night.

TO PREPARE FOR THE AFTER-SCHOOL DASH:

Get ready for after-school activities by putting together pre-packed sports and lessons bags, as well as a large, color coded family calendar to help kids spot activities at a glance.
After a long summer break, your kids might find readjusting to homework difficult. To help them get back into the groove, establish a homework routine. Have the kids complete their assignments at the same time each day and encourage them to do the tough work first.
While your kids might have a number of opportunities to pursue after-school activities, they also need time to relax at home. School takes a lot of energy, and your kids need some downtime to play with friends and participate in family activities. Help your children choose which after-school activities are most valuable to them to avoid over-activity.

TO AVOID THE MORNING RUSH:

Have clothes, breakfast and lunch ready to grab-and-go! Fold the kids’ clothes as a set with everything from socks to tops. Keep wholesome ready-to-go snacks including bags of grapes, pre-cut carrots and convenient Smucker’s® Uncrustables® Sandwiches —crustless PB&J sandwiches that come in six tasty flavors including three whole wheat varieties.
Sometimes the best thing to do is trick your brain. Set clocks ahead by 10 minutes so that you are always on time.
Each morning, get yourself ready before you wake up the rest of the family. You’ll feel more in control, ensure you’ve had a good breakfast, and avoid driving the kids to school in your bathrobe. Get up and go with quick and easy breakfast ideas like bananas and Smucker’s® Snack’n Waffles Brand Waffles, which already have the syrup baked in, so there’s no mess in the car.

TO PLAN FOR THE NEXT DAY THE NIGHT BEFORE:

Organize your evenings with a task basket! All the flurry of papers coming and going from school can cause evening chaos. From permission slips to teacher notices to field trip forms, you can track it all in a colorful basket for each child. Also, preprint permission slip templates reading, “Allow my child to attend ____ field trip today,” so you can quickly fill and sign.
Create a weekly to-do list on the computer or your mobile phone (or planner) so it is easy for you to prioritize items and make new additions. Helpful categories include phone calls to make, errands to run, appointments to schedule and household tasks.