“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Benjamin Franklin
Image Courtesy of Kaboompics
Often it feels as if there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done, especially for parents of young and school-going children. Here are some sensible tips and shortcuts for planning and making the most of the hours that are available. By getting organised, and thinking ahead, it is possible to streamline many activities and get everybody out of the door on time.
- Plan ahead for the week, and plan ahead for the next day. Online and printed calendars can help keep you up to date.
- Set out clothing and school snacks the night before, so you don’t have a mad rush in the morning.
- Put sports equipment or musical instruments in the car the night before.
- Make sure all bags are packed and ready to go, preferably at the front door.
- Keep an emergency backup kit in the car – nappies and extra clothing if kids are small, and sports clothes if they are bigger. Also snacks and water.
- Get a gift box or drawer – kids get invited to a steady stream of parties, and buying in bulk will make your life that much easier.
- There’s nothing wrong with having a weekly meal time pattern. Shop and cook ahead for the week if possible. Routine is your friend.
- We love shopping for groceries online. Not only do you save time, but you prevent those checkout tantrums and impulse buys.
We’ve found this cute and useful week planner App for kids, which was developed by a dad in the Netherlands, to help his children keep track of their week. If your children are tech-savvy, it’s a useful way to help them organise and plan their extra-mural activities and assignments.
Screenshot of the Novitura.com planning app for children
Why don’t you let us know your tips for being organised and saving time? Perhaps you cook and freeze weekly meals, or have a great way of keeping track of family activities. Either way, we’d love to hear about it and share it with other parents.
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