Autumn Madness: Kids go back, hooray!

Yeah, the kids are back at school! If like the 99.9% of mums you’re celebrating, welcome to the club. After such a wet summer, and what looks like a soggy Autumn, now’s a great time to get your house in order. This strictly comes after treating yourself to a few shopping trips/ hairdressing appointments/ coffee dates - all without the kids in tow. Here’s some top tips to help cope with the Autumn Term and make life a little easier…

1. Create a notice board (if you haven’t got one already). If you have, make sure all last years notices are gone, ready to be replaced with new ones. I like to mark any important dates on the calendar straight away, as well as days like school photos. Grab a big red marker and circles all those important dates so you’re ready well in advance.

2. Go through your child’s wardrobe with them (and your own) and put any clothes to one side that don’t fit any more or that are too destroyed to last another summer. Kids all seem to have growth spurts in summer and by clearing stuff out you’ll make room for bulky winter clothes as well. if it’s an item they are particularly attached to but you don’t want them to be seen in public with them any more (ie, my sons worn through spider man swimming trunks that are now see-through) leave them in the draw until bedtime, when they can be whisked away secretly at night. Before they notice they’re gone, they can be replaced with an even newer, cooler pair. of course, donate all clothes to either appreciative family members or charity - you choose.

3. Set up a good postal system (if you haven’t got one already). Have 3 boxes - deal with, shred or file. All post can be divided into one of these categories. That way when it comes through the door you’ll know what to do with it (rather than leave it to pile up, then get lost, then get disconnected).

4. Have all your family members and friends birthdays, anniversaries etc written on your calendar and a stash of birthday cards ready. I always pick up some bargain ones when I’m out. That way you’ll always be ready for anyone’s birthday/ special event. And as a bonus, if you remember there’s, they are more likely to remember yours.

5. Don’t you just hate it when you go to make the kids pack lunch and someones eaten the last piece of bread? Make sure you never get caught out by keeping a pen and list to hand. I blu-tac a piece of paper to the fridge and whatever finishes goes on the list.

6. Stock up. I know there’s a credit crunch at the moment but it can be good to stock up on pack lunch deals. Carton drinks, crisps, raisins, dried fruit thingy miggigies. There’s always a tasty treat ready for the lunch box. Also cling film, foil, containers etc, keep lots ot hand as it’s sooo annoying when you run out.

7. Make sure you’ve labelled all the kids school clothes. I like the iron on ones as when you write on the labels, people can just cut them out. There’s lot of internet companies that print your own labels for you - mine even come with shoe stickers (a good one when you all shop at Clarks), and sticky labels for water bottles etc.

8. Keep a box full of envelopes, they are useful for paying for milk, school trips or lunch money.

9.  As the kids can’t reach the coat hooks at home, I have a plastic tub that I let them put there coats in. That way if they are soaking wet, they don’t make everything else wet too.

10. Have a treat box. Once the kids come in from school, if they’ve been good, let them choose a tasty treat. It’s a good way to make them happy to be home and a nice treat before dinner. It doesn’t have to be chocolates, why nto try dried fruit, yogurt covered raisins or banana chips?

These top tips were bought to you by Floorell, www.floorell.co.uk