Mom Hacks for a Stress- and Clutter-free After School Routine

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Things around here have been a little insane. With the kids back at school and more activities than ever, we were legit struggling there for awhile. Between homework, extracurricular activities and informational school meetings, we had to get organized, and fast.

Today I’m sharing some of my favorite mom hacks for school nights. These tips help keep my family on track so we have more time to do the things we love.

With a little organization and go-to meals like Kidfresh, we’re taking back our weeknights. Get 40%  off Kidfresh at Target with Cartwheel through 9/24/16. Details here.

mom hacks for school nights

Set the Game Plan – We use this large chalkboard in our eat-in dining area to set the stage for our evening.

Keeping your family’s agenda in a highly visible place keeps everyone on on the same page. If necessary, list these activities by time frames to keep the evening flowing. Gymnastics, dance and karate, oh my!

 

Keep it Together  – I use simple, multipurpose containers to create a simple homework supply station. No more searching for a sharp pencil! When it’s time to get to work, the kids have everything at their fingertips. When they’re done, we tuck the supplies away in a cabinet for next time.

 

Create a Stash System – I can’t stand a cluttered counter, but school papers, notes and book orders seem to cover every square inch!  So, I created a system for reducing this counter chaos.

I introduced these simple magazine bins as a way to file away returned homework and important papers out of sight.  Our kids also have school-issued electronics, and we created a charging station to keep them in one place, ready to go for the next morning.

Time It – On nights that the kids are frustrated about homework or chores, I’ll introduce a timer. We’ll agree on an amount of time we’re willing to work really hard before we stop – 5 or 10 minutes. Funny thing – they’re always done before the timer dings, and are pleasantly surprised that their dreaded task didn’t take long at all.

Plan Go-To Meals – The most important thing I do to keep my family on time is to have a solid meal plan before the week even begins. Family meals are a non-negotiable in my house, so I keep several “go-to meals” in my back pocket for the busiest of nights, to keep us from falling into a fast food takeout cycle.

My mom friends and I are always on the hunt for those holy grail meals that meet the go-to meal criteria: quick, nutritious, and kid-approved. I discovered my latest go-to meal for the kids last week at Target. Kidfresh meals make my life easier, because they fit my go-to criteria and more.

What I really love is that they contain all the right things: up to 1/2 cup of vegetables per serving and a short, clean ingredient list. The flavors are all kid-tested and approved, so even if my kids don’t eat every last bite of broccoli, I know they’re still getting their veggies in.

If you’re looking to add this go-to meal option to your meal plan, now is the time to stock up! Right now you can get 40% Kidfresh Meals at Target in the Kid Faves aisle. Get this offer on Cartwheel here  through 9/24/16.

What do you think of my mom hacks for school nights? What would you add to this list?