How to Make the Most of Your
Back-to-School Experience

It’s that time of year again.  Time for stocking up on supplies, creating homework routines and spaces, packing lunches, afterschool activities, and the dreaded struggle to get out of the house on time in the morning. Surviving the back-to-school transition is all about setting up a routine and lots of preparation! Here are a few tips to help you get everyone ready who needs to be ready:

Snacks and lunches: This one is all about preparation! Using snack sized baggies, everything from goldfish crackers and popcorn to grapes and carrot sticks can be packaged up ahead of time. That means that you can easily grab a baggie for lunchboxes, and the kids can grab one themselves for a perfectly portioned after school snack. Sandwiches can also be made up to a few days in advance, allowing the kids to just grab the sandwich of their choice, a snack bag, and be on their way!

Dinner time: Preparing meals in advance and freezing them isn’t limited to soups, stews, and casseroles. Although warm soups and hearty meals should absolutely make the rotation, you can also pre-chop, season/spice, and freeze meals that you make frequently. Also, create a schedule for things like “taco Tuesday” and “meatless Mondays” that give you a plan, but room for lots of variety. Taco Tuesdays aren’t just for tacos. Try making chicken and peppers fajitas, sweet coconut rice and beans, or quesadillas. “Teach it Thursdays” is a perfect occasion to make a meal and get the kids involved. Have them help with preparation, serving, and clean up and, while you’re at it, be sure to teach them about nutrition and reasonable sized portions.

Start early: Starting the family back on its school-year routine isn’t just about enforcing earlier bed times. Have a routine for how everyone gets in and out of the car quickly, and consistently set reminders of who is in charge of what. The new school year is also a time to see what new things the kids can do. If all they were responsible for last year was getting dressed and cleaned up in the morning, maybe this year you can bed making and checking their backpacks for completeness into the mix.

Keep family time sacred: Don’t forget to set aside time as a family like you did all summer. You can still be out doors at night having picnics staring at the cosmos. An outdoor heater or fire pit can be a great accompaniment and facilitator.

You know what can throw a wrench into your practiced morning routines during the school year?  A problem with your home plumbing, especially if it involves having less hot water than the family needs for morning showers and shaving.  Whatever the problem might be, you can count on Your 1 Plumber for prompt scheduling, on-time service, and dependable results.