As a mom of three children and longtime parenting editor, I understand the complete chaos that can unfold every weekday morning as you try to get kids out the door on time for school, daycare and work. Getting the kids fed and clothed and their backpacks packed—not to mention completing your own morning routine—feels like a real test of endurance (and extreme patience) most days. Over the years, I’ve found a few back-to-school hacks, like a daily clothing organizer and sneakers they can just step into, that have helped me to reduce that frazzled feeling and to get us all out the door on time with fewer tears.
Simplify the frantic morning routine with these products that help get everyone where they need to be on time.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
As a busy working parent, anything that saves time, reduces whining and lightens the mental load is worth its weight in gold. The following products have been real game-changers in our family.
My Back-To-School Morning Must-Haves At A Glance
MOST POPULAR
Sometimes it feels like half the battle is them trying to figure what to wear for the day. Eliminate that morning indecision by having them pick out all their outfits at the start of the week (accessories and all) and placing them in each day’s cubby. This way, when they wake up, they don’t have to think all bleary-eyed and can just start the getting-ready process.
If they’re lacking closet space, there’s an over-the-door version, which comes with a separate pocket each day for socks (talk about genius.)
Want to save this story for later?
No need to bookmark—get it straight to your inbox.
We’ve sent this story to your inbox.
If your kids are like mine and constantly ask what the weather will be like that day or what they’re up to after school, the Hearth Display may just change your life. Mine has really helped to streamline our morning—and every day. (You can read my Hearth Display review for full details.) For younger kids, the visual routines section takes the place of magnetic boards (although those are also a great low-tech option)—guiding them through their morning routine step by step and rewarding them with fun confetti sprinkles each time they check each task off. This is also great for older kids who are more visual learners.
Kizik Kids Athens 2 Slip-On Sneakers
If I could add up the minutes I’ve spent in the past decade struggling with kids shoes and socks in the morning rush, it would be weeks worth of time, if not more. Kizik’s hands-free, slip-on kids shoes have truly sped up our mornings and reduced frustration in my household. Despite having myriad shoes from which to choose, my younger kids most often slip on their Kiziks. I suspect it’s because stepping into them on our way out the door couldn’t possibly be easier. No more cumbersome laces, straps or shouts of: “I do it myself!” They’re among our parenting team’s picks for the best shoes for kids, too.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee And Espresso Maker By De’Longhi
Coffee is a must in the morning for me, and while I do have a traditional program-the-night-before coffee machine, it hasn’t seen the light of day since I switched to a Nespresso machine. With the push of a single button, I have fresh hot coffee or espresso with the perfect amount of crema in a minute to take with me on the morning school run. For tea or pour-over drinkers, my husband is obsessed with our Fellow Stagg Kettle that brews hot water in mere seconds at the press of a button.
Seasoned parents know that the coffee you make in the morning never stays hot by the time you finally get around to drinking it. This Yeti Rambler fixes that problem for me as I head out the door for school drop-offs. With its slimmer profile, it easily fits in my car cupholder (where I’m doing most of my coffee sipping between multiple drop-offs.) The easy-to-use magnetic tab closure prevent spills. Best of all? It keeps my coffee or tea hot all day. In hot weather, I fill it with ice and water and there are still ice cubes bouncing around in there six hours later. But the real best part? It’s dishwasher-safe so no end-of-day scrubbing required.
Despite their (and your) best efforts, kids have a tendency to get distracted as they get ready. I love visual timers to help them keep track of time that’s passed and to know when to move on to the next step. It’s equally as effective with younger kids who are still getting accustomed to a morning school routine and older kids who don’t want constant reminders but who still need them to get ready on time.
One of my biggest back-t0-school hacks over the years has been to move all of my kids socks from their bedroom dresser to downstairs by their shoes—and the door. Each kid has their own small basket filled with clean, paired up socks (the pairing is key here), so they can just reach in, grab a pair and go.
Your kids aren’t the only ones who need to get ready. When I’ve only got minutes to spare, I swipe on this multi-tasking CC+ cream that a number of my mom friends love, too. It’s foundation, a hydrating serum and sunscreen all in one that makes me feel more awake and put together without having to reach for multiple products. It comes in a wide variety of shades to fit different types of skin tones and one tube really lasts a long time.
This may seem obvious, but having a hook for each child’s backpack and coat keeps things accessible and ready to go. Not only does it save you major time and stress from running around looking for each kid’s backpack, it keeps all that clutter off the ground for some added mental sanity. This set of four beechwood hooks is minimalist, aesthetically pleasing and can support heavy loads up to 35 pounds (aka backpacks crammed full).
