9 Tips for Eliminating School Morning Madness

School is underway again. No more sleeping late. No more casual breakfasts.

The chaos of early-rising mornings has begun!

Here are 9 tips for warding off the morning madness this season inevitably brings.

1. Do as much as possible the night before.

Get the children to assemble everything they need the night before: backpacks, lunches, stuff for after-school activities (swimsuits, cleats, etc.) This includes showers or baths.

2. Create a bathroom schedule.

Assign everyone 15 minutes of time in the bathroom at specific intervals to avoid gridlock.

3. Make mornings easier by having no-choice breakfasts.

If it's Monday, we're having cereal. If it's Tuesday, we're having yogurt.

There's no time for short-order cooks on school days.

4. Plan outfits in advance.

Especially important if your kids don't wear uniforms. On Sunday, get the kids to lay out their clothes for the week.

Make sure there are no rips or tears and that everything (including gym clothes and soccer jerseys) is clean.

For my little one, I package each day's outfit (underwear and all) in a big resealable plastic bag. He just needs to pull out the bag and get dressed.

5. Sundays are key to your week.

Dole out lunch money, etc., on Sunday nights. Work out carpools in advance of the week ahead.

To plan efficiently, make a calendar listing everyone's activities. No one can commit to anything before they check the calendar and clear it with the chauffeur (mom).

6. Make to-go lists for every family member.

Post them on the fridge for quick reference each morning.

Brian has gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays and band practice on Tuesdays. So his basic "to-go" list for Tuesday would always be topped with Gym Clothes and Trumpet.

Help the kids update the lists each Sunday night. That way, you don't get distress calls about forgotten piano books.

7. Create an in/out box for papers, permission slips and other essentials.

Lunch money should go here, too.

8. Always keep your keys on a hook by the door.

Too many buses have been missed because of frantic morning last-minute key searches.

9. Consider investing in a second set of text books.

I know this sounds pricey - but it really helps. My friend's daughter wound up at the doctor's office with a back strain from her heavy backpack - and she was only in fourth grade.

Just buy extra copies of texts at the beginning of the year and keep one set at home. No more heavy back packs. No more forgotten books!

And no more excuses for not doing homework.

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About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.