Deals & Steals on Lara's fabulous finds!

Open menu

  • Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2023 ABC News
  • Family

These 'out-the-door-fast' hacks will have you owning the school year like a boss

VIDEO: 'Out-the-door' hacks for back-to-schooling like a boss
0:40
'Out-the-door' hacks for back-to-schooling like a boss
ABCNews.com
ByNicole Pelletiere
August 29, 2022, 4:04 am

Pack up the pool floats and break out the backpacks, for back-to-school season is officially upon us.

Tame the stress and own the most hectic of mornings with these pro tips from mamas who've been there.

Get our full coverage to head back to school like a boss and own the school year.

Hack 1: Shoes? Check! Lunch? Check!

Visual reminders like a splashy checklist can help your child understand what's expected of them each day.

We like these free, printable checklists from the Sunny Day Family blog. Use them as your secret weapon for getting on schedule for mornings and after school.

Katya Libin, co-founder and CEO of the community site Heymama, agrees that a solid, morning routine will get you out the door faster.

PHOTO: A command center with checklists can help your child understand what's expected of them each day.
A command center with checklists can help your child understand what's expected of them each day.
Sunny Day Family blog

"Kids love rules," Libin told "Good Morning America." "They say they don't, but I find that when I stick to [the] same schedule my daughter responds really well."

Libin said she has her 7-year-old sign a contract after she completes morning tasks like brushing her teeth.

Also, when you're racing out the door, the less you have to take care of the better.

Prep as much as you can the night before, but getting organized on Sunday for the week ahead is key for reducing morning stress.

Check the weekly weather with your son or daughter then and set aside their clothes for the week. We love these DIY cube drawers for organizing outfits.

PHOTO: These DIY cube drawers canhelp you child understand how to organizing outfits before the school week.
These DIY cube drawers canhelp you child understand how to organizing outfits before the school week.
Sunny Day Family blog

Libin said to have your child pick their own clothes and give them their own alarm clock, so they understand that they're involved in the back-to-school routine as much as you are.

"It's not an 'I and you' it's a 'we,'" she added. "When we make it to school on time it's a huge celebration for parents really struggling on how to get their kids out the door. It's a team effort."

PHOTO: Co-founders of the blog, Heymama.co, hold their children outdoors in this image.
Co-founders of the blog, Heymama.co, hold their children outdoors in this image.
Heymama

Hack 2: Serve the early-bird special

Libin suggests planning breakfast and all other meals for the week and have your kids pick out some of their favorites.

"Removing as much choice as possible from the morning [helps], so they know the next day what's happening," Libin said.

Assembling lunches for the week each Sunday makes it easy for grabbing and going.

To ensure there are healthy after-school snacks, pack them in advance and store them in an easy-to-grab spot in the fridge.

If you find that your kids are filling up on snacks before dinner, Scary Mommy author Wendy Wisner shares the creative hack of feeding her kids their supper right when they get home from school.

PHOTO: In this undated stock photo, an overhead view of a brother and sister eating healthy snacks and lunches.
In this undated stock photo, an overhead view of a brother and sister eating healthy snacks and lunches.
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

"They’d basically eat snacks continuously from 3 to 4 p.m. And then, as you can imagine, dinner was basically a joke," she wrote. "So, one recent afternoon I had this lightbulb moment: What if I just start feeding them dinner at 3 or 4 p.m. when they’re clearly the hungriest?

"It’s the Best. Idea. Ever."

If you attempt Wisner's hack, then save those after-school snacks for post-dinner.

Editor’s Picks

Teen Instagram influencer Sky Katz picks her favorite backpacks for back-to-school

  • Aug 08, 2018

Win back to school with these 5 creative 1st-day ideas

  • Aug 10, 2022

Genius hacks for handling school drop-offs like a boss

  • Aug 07, 2019

Hack 3: Keep life-saving 'tardy tools' in reach

Running late? If there's no time for breakfast, Libin suggests keeping non-perishable snacks like granola bars and bottled water in your car.

For seriously scatter-brained mornings like forgetting your child's backpack or gym clothes, stash a notebook and pencils plus an extra set of activewear in the trunk.

PHOTO: In this undated stock photo, a young girl eats a granola bar.
In this undated stock photo, a young girl eats a granola bar.
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

Hack 4: Make homework time a happier time

Create a designated area for your child to do his or her schoolwork without any distractions. A homework station will keep supplies in one area, which will make it less likely for pencils, folders and even the homework itself to go missing.

PHOTO: If you child likes to do their work in different areas of the house, consider a homework caddy.
If you child likes to do their work in different areas of the house, consider a homework caddy.
Happy-Go-Lucky blog

If your kid likes to do their work in different areas of the house, put together a homework caddy where they can tote their stationery from the couch to the kitchen table.

Get our full coverage to head back to school like a boss and own the school year.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Aug. 8, 2018.

Editor’s Picks

Teen Instagram influencer Sky Katz picks her favorite backpacks for back-to-school

  • Aug 08, 2018

Win back to school with these 5 creative 1st-day ideas

  • Aug 10, 2022

Genius hacks for handling school drop-offs like a boss

  • Aug 07, 2019
Up Next in Family—

Star in the making: Tiger Woods caddies for son Charlie at junior golf competition

September 27, 2023

Mom lets child take unofficial school breaks: 'It's not gonna hurt her'

September 26, 2023

Why this mom uses an Apple AirTag on her 3-year-old daughter

September 26, 2023

Children's books recalled due to potential choking hazard

September 25, 2023

Up Next in Family—

Star in the making: Tiger Woods caddies for son Charlie at junior golf competition

September 27, 2023

Mom lets child take unofficial school breaks: 'It's not gonna hurt her'

September 26, 2023

Why this mom uses an Apple AirTag on her 3-year-old daughter

September 26, 2023

Children's books recalled due to potential choking hazard

September 25, 2023

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2023 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2023 ABC News