This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jimmy Dean®. The opinions and text are all mine. This year I will have three kids at the same elementary school since my youngest daughter is starting Kindergarten. In some ways this will make my life easier as I no longer will have to drop my twins off at elementary school and my youngest off at preschool. However, my kids will be on an earlier schedule, so rather than dropping off at 9am we will need to be there at 8:30. I have been looking for ways to simplify our morning routine so we can get to school on time and have more relaxed mornings. Since my kids will all have homework after school, I need to make our after school routine streamlined as well. If you are facing similar challenges, you'll want to check out these tips to create a stress free morning and after school routine. For more ways to make life easier, check out Tips to Teach Kids to Use the Dishwasher.
Tips for a stress free morning
1. Dressed before breakfast
I have my kids get dressed, including socks and shoes, before they sit down at the breakfast table. My kids wake up hungry and they get dressed quicker when they know they need to be ready before they can eat. Before I did this, I was rushing my kids as we were heading out the door to put their shoes on. This would be a stressful situation for us all.
2. Prepare lunches the night before
I find that I am less frazzled in the mornings if I get the kids' lunches ready before heading to bed the night before. Obviously, you cannot always do this for every aspect of the meal, but prep as much as you can ahead of time.
3. Backpacks prepped and by the door
Before they go to bed at night, I have my kids put everything they will need for the next day in their backpacks. This eliminates the last minute running around in the morning looking for a book. In addition to taking stress out of the morning routine, this teaches kids responsibility for their belongings.
4. Simplify the breakfast routine
It is so important for kids to go to school with a full belly and #fuelforschool. We are lucky to be able to provide our kids with breakfast before they head out the door. Jimmy Dean® Pancake & Sausage are one of our favorite easy breakfast foods. They only take a minute to cook in the microwave which allows me to spend more time with my kids and less time preparing an elaborate meal. I think food is just more fun when it's on a stick, don't you?
We found Jimmy Dean® Pancake & Sausage and some yummy State Fair® Classic Corn Dogs at an Every Day Low Price at Walmart in the freezer aisle.
I happened to have a little helper with me when I did my shopping. She was so excited to get these State Fair® Classic Corn Dogs that she insisted on carrying them with her through Walmart.
Walmart is the place for back to school, especially for quick meal solutions for Mom. These items were a great value at Walmart.
Tips for a Stress Free Afternoon
1. Everything in its place
As soon as my kids get home from school they unzip their lunch bags and place the items in the sink/dishwasher for cleaning. They then return their lunch bags to where they belong. We also put our backpacks in a central location where they can be checked for any notes.
2. Easy Snacks
The prep on State Fair® Classic Corn Dogs is simple. They can be made in the microwave, oven or deep fryer. Since they are on a stick, they are easy to bring outside and enjoy in the beautiful fall weather. I find these corn dogs are great for feeding a crowd such as when neighbor kids come over or there is a play date on the schedule. Kids (and adults) love the honey sweetened batter surrounding the hot dog.
3. Homework before play
We have tried this the other way around and the kids just do not want to stop playing to do homework. Can you blame them? This would result in me turning into a nagging mom, which is no fun. Our homework is given out on Monday and due back on Friday, so we do a little bit at a time each day and then we PLAY!
I hope these tips will help you get the school year off to a good start.How do you create a stress free morning and after school routine? I would love to hear your tips!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jimmy Dean®. The opinions and text are all mine.