The holiday season brings magic, memories—and mayhem. Holiday prep and planning, along with your child’s school schedule, can make busy weeknights feel overwhelming. Maximizing your time and simplifying your daily routine can make a noticeable difference in maintaining order in your home during the holidays. We’ve rounded up some time-savers to help you during the most hectic time of the year:
Meal Prepping
Preparing breakfast and lunch in the mornings before school can contribute to the morning chaos and sometimes cause you to run late. This morning rush is intensified when you’re juggling holiday party planning and making classroom treats. Instead of scrambling to get meals and snacks finished in the mornings, prep ahead!
Meal prepping breakfasts and lunches in advance is a game-changer and a simple way to better manage your time. Placing pre-portioned meals and snacks into individual containers is the easiest way to start. Not only does this save time, but it also helps you make sure your child’s diet stays balanced and healthy during a season full of treats
Organizing Backpacks
In the excitement of the holidays, it’s easy to forget homework folders, textbooks and permission slips. Organizing your work and school bags beforehand is a simple way to save time in the mornings and lower the chances of forgetting something important. You can also designate a spot in the home where backpacks, lunches and other school items are packed and ready to go, ensuring that nothing gets left behind. Having children pack their own bags the night before also encourages responsibility.
Carpooling
Carpooling allows parents to share transportation responsibilities, which can be useful when balancing those with crazy holiday schedules. Sharing rides during the busiest time of the year ensures reliable transportation, making perfect attendance a breeze! Carpooling also reduces traffic congestion in school zones during pick-up and drop-off times, leading to a smoother transition to and from school, which your child will especially appreciate on early release days!
Setting Outfits Out the Night Before
Setting school outfits out the night before helps your family avoid the early-morning stress. Having outfits all together in one place saves valuable time, eliminating the last-minute scramble for socks and shoes or uniforms. Having children set out their outfits beforehand also builds their confidence and teaches them responsibility.
Keeping a Holiday Calendar
With family gatherings, holiday activities and school events approaching, organization is key. Keeping a digital planner or family calendar to track everyone’s schedule is an effective way to make sure no events, appointments or deadlines are missed. You can make this process more engaging by involving the family in creating and staying on top of the calendar. Children can help by checking off completed tasks or marking each day with a drawing or sticker, giving them a sense of responsibility while making it fun!
With a few smart time-saving strategies and a little planning, you can ease the stress of school nights, lighten your morning load and still have time to enjoy the holiday season. Lake Forrest Prep understands how important it is to be organized at home in order for students to thrive in school and their extracurricular activities. Learn more about our Orlando preparatory school here.