Back-to-school Strategies for Parents with Multiple Kids

Transition into the school year with healthy, streamlined routines the whole family can get behind.

Back to School with Multiple Kids

Back-to-school season signals a fresh start—for your kids, for you, and for the finely-tuned routine you’ve perfected over the summer months. Whether this season marks your child’s first school experience or not, the adjustment can be trickier when there’s more than one kid in the house. But tricky situations call for creative solutions.

For happier back-to-school planning, think ahead, set expectations early, and allow kids to participate in whatever way their age allows. Use these ideas to streamline your family’s back-to-school routine, and you’ll sail through the season at the top of the class.

Test-Run the Morning Schedule

Determine what time everyone needs to wake up to get out the door on time—then adjust to that timing a few weeks before the first day of school. If you’ve got an infant in the house, their sleep and feeding schedule may dictate at least one parent’s to-do list; figure out ahead of time who helps older kids with getting dressed and fed, and who’s on baby duty.

Tweak Your Nighttime Routine

The more everyone can do the night before a school day, the smoother mornings will go. Ideas to prep include:

Check the weather and pick out outfits for the next day, letting older children help choose clothing.
Designate a spot by the front door for backpacks and make sure they’re packed and ready, including weather gear.
Prep lunch and snacks, and refill water bottles, so you can pack lunch boxes quickly in the morning.

Use Charts to Motivate

Make a checklist for each child in the house—even the littles going to pre-K 3 class—so they can check off tasks every morning. Sample checklist items:

Getting dressed
Brushing teeth and hair
Eating breakfast
Making the bed
Filling the pet’s water bowl

At the end of the week, reward a perfect checklist by allowing your child to choose a family weekend activity.

Streamline Breakfast

Keep the kitchen stocked with wholesome, easy-to-prepare foods for the whole family:

Overnight oats
Hard-boiled eggs
Fresh fruit and yogurt
For toddlers 12-36 months: Aussie Bubs™ Australian Goat Milk-based Toddler Formula, made with plant-based omega 3 (DHA) and omega 6 (ARA), prebiotics, vitamins and minerals, is convenient and nutritious for starting the day right.

Build in Buffer Time

Minimize drop-off drama by plotting who needs to be where, when. Factor in morning traffic, weather delays, and school parking backups if you have children attending multiple locations.

Manage Moods

Even little kids can have big feelings about a new school year. Help them get excited by:

Asking them to list three things they’re looking forward to on a notecard or paper.
Displaying it on their bedroom door, kitchen table, or near the bathroom mirror.
Reading the list aloud periodically for schoolbound kids who aren’t reading yet.

Continue Treasured Summer Rituals

Ease into a new routine by keeping favorite parts of the old one. Example:

Summer morning walks with the kids—shift timing to after school if needed.
Bring a bottle of water or a serving of Aussie Bubs Goat Milk Infant Formula for on-the-go goodness during baby’s mealtime.

Create New School-Year Traditions

Here’s a fun idea: At the end of every week, gather the family for a bookbag show-and-tell:

Kids share drawings, projects, or “My Day” reports from childcare.
Parents share items from their week at work or home.
Infants can “present” items that reflect their week, like a new binky or a grown diaper size.

By thinking ahead, prepping routines, and making the process fun for everyone, you can make back-to-school season smooth, organized, and enjoyable—even in a busy household with multiple kids.