After the fun and random nature of summer, a great way to get everybody back on the same page is with a back-to-school routine. There are a lot of pre-made routines for families out there you could adopt, and if that works for you, great! But, if you’re like me and you work best with ideas out of your own brain, you might like to make up your own back-to-school routine. This way, you can tailor your routine specifically to your family’s values and commitments.

Routines vs. Schedules

Routines are defined as “a sequence of actions regularly followed.” Schedules, on the other hand, are defined as “a plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.” The main difference between routines and schedules is that schedules include times, while routines don’t. This makes routines much more flexible, which, if you have young children, is a must. I actually like to place a few times in my routine, just so I have benchmarks throughout the day, so mine is more of a routine/schedule hybrid.

Some Benefits of Routines

• Expectations – Routines are a great way to manage expectations. When everybody knows what they are supposed to be doing and when and what is coming up next, there are fewer opportunities for unmet expectations. This leads to less drama and chaos, which, if you read this post about controlling the kid chaos, you know I need. Badly.
• Efficiency – Simply put, routines allow us to get more done in less time. Plus, fewer things fall through the cracks if we plan on doing them around the same time every day or week.
• Less chaos – Again, when everybody is doing similar activities at the same time and not running around, each man for himself, the home is calmer and more peaceful, leading to better moods and attitudes all around.
• Teaching time – Daily routines create built-in time to teach good habits/character training. This one is a biggie for us, too. My kids move so fast. SO. FAST. I rarely have time to process what’s happening before at least one kid is on to something new. With a routine in place, I have more chances to teach them things like how to clean up after themselves, how to apologize to an offended sibling in the moment, and how to do their chores the right way. It also creates more together time, so we can learn to “bear with one another in love” and to appreciate each other. And it requires all of us to work on patience while we wait for everyone to finish the task at hand before moving on to the next thing.
• Comforting – Routines can also be very comforting. Knowing what to expect and when gives people a feeling of control and allows time to mentally prepare for what’s ahead, reducing stress and anxiety.

Creating Your Back-to-School Routine

Questions to Ask Before Getting Started

What benefits do we want to reap through the use of our back-to-school routine?

Do you want to plan some personal or family God time every day? Maybe you want to teach them to get their work done before playtime or to work as unto the Lord by doing their very best work every time. Routines can also reinforce that families are like teams, and teams help each other out. Maybe you’re tired of cleaning up after everybody and want to train them to take the time after each activity to clean up after themselves. Or maybe you have a child who needs to be able to predict what’s next. Whatever benefits you want to get out of your routine, try to focus on these as you continue to put together your routine.

What do we want/need to get done each day?

Break the day up into chunks, like before school, morning, after school, and evening. Then think about what needs to get done during those times.

Before school, you might want to get up early to do your devotional and chores before the kids get up. Then, when they get up, they might need to get dressed, make their beds, and eat breakfast before school.

While the kids are at school, maybe you want to exercise, or work, or play with younger kids.

Homework is an obvious after-school activity, and most kids are ready for a snack when they get home from school. What about extracurricular activities like sports or music lessons? Chores? Don’t forget playtime!

In the evening? Dinner has to happen every night, so that’s got to go in the routine. And who will help clean up afterward and how? Maybe you want to have time for a family devotional or game after dinner. Then there’s the mini-routine for getting ready for bed.

Is there anything that isn’t negotiable and needs to happen each day or week?

Perhaps you have church on Sundays and/or Wednesdays or life group or a Bible study that need to get added to the routine. What other commitments have you made that need to be honored in your routine?

How much time do we spend on each of these activities?

Thinking about this now will come in handy as you begin to add things to the routine. Don’t forget to include commute times to and from work, school, and other commitments. You want to make sure you allow enough time for each activity so you’re not all stressed out about “getting things done”. On the other hand, allowing too much time for each activity increases the likelihood of the routine completely falling apart. But I wouldn’t know anything about that. 😉

Putting Your Back-to-School Routine Together

When I begin to put together a new routine, I really just use a blank sheet of computer paper and a pencil. I mentally break the page up into chunks to represent chunks of time in the day, like I mentioned above, and then start penciling things in. Then, once I have it penciled out, I either write it out neatly or use Google Docs or Sheets to make it look nice for hanging in a spot where everyone can see it. Here’s a fun printable to fill out for each of your kiddos once you get your routine figured out, so you can all be on the same page!

Plug the commitments and non-negotiables into your back-to-school routine

Doing this right off the bat ensures nothing important is getting nudged out by less important activities.

Plug in the other things you want or need to get done

While doing this, consider…

…the natural flow of your day. What makes the most sense for your family? Are there things you’ve already been doing in a particular order? If that has been working, why change it? Just work it all into the routine together. Is there a time when everybody is hungry? Tired? Put a snack or a nap into the routine around then.

…are your kids self-sufficient or do they need constant supervision to stay on track? If they need your guidance, don’t plan on doing anything else during these times. If they are self-sufficient, you might plan on taking care of some of your own things while they carry out their routine. If you want to do this, just write down both routines in the same block.

…when do you like to do your personal stuff? As moms, we spend so much time concentrating on everybody else, that it’s easy to neglect our own physical, mental, and spiritual health. I like to get up earlier than my kids, so I can get my Bible time and devotional done before they get up and maybe even squeeze in some exercise. Starting the day in this way helps ensure that my attitude is in the right place to give to those who need me throughout the day. But maybe you like to use your personal time to wind down at night. Either way, don’t forget to include your time in your routine so it doesn’t get left out and forgotten. A tapped-out mommy isn’t gonna do anybody any good. Who can testify?

Our Back-to-School Routine

This is what our back-to-school routine is going to look like this year.

• Mom gets up at 5:45 to do devotional and Bible and work out (start gently waking kids up at 6:45)
• Kids get up at 7:00, get dressed and ready for school, make beds, have breakfast, brush teeth, gather school stuff
• Mom takes kids to school, leave at 7:30
• Mom and preschooler go home
• Mom and preschooler do morning chores (start a load of laundry, empty dishwasher, make beds, shower, get dressed)
• Mom works on blog and business tasks while preschooler plays games on phone or watches TV (please don’t judge)
• Snack
• Mom and preschooler play together
• Lunch and lunchtime chores (clean up lunch mess, switch laundry to dryer)
• Mom and preschooler do preschool activities (ABCs, counting, drawing/crafts, etc.)
• Leave to get kids from school at 2:30, preschooler naps in car sometimes
• Home from getting kids at 3:30
• Snack for everybody
• Kids play (outside if weather permits) to burn off some energy
• Chores at around 4:30 (Mom supervises and makes sure chores are done right)
• Kids do homework or read while Mom makes dinner, helping kids when necessary
• Dinner and family devotional/scripture memorization around 5:30
• After-dinner chores (kids clear table, wipe table, sweep around table; Mom puts leftovers away and does dishes)
• Baths start at around 6:30 (preschooler, then 7-year-old, then 9-year-old), TV for those who are waiting to bathe or have already bathed
• Preschooler in bed at 7:00; 7-year-old in bed at 8:00; 9-year-old in bed at 8:30 (can read till 9)
• Mom and Dad hang out from 8:30-9:45
• Mom bedtime at 10:00

Back-to-School Routines Summary

Having a back-to-school routine for kids can help everybody adjust to the increased structure of the school year. Aside from this, routines maximize efficiency and minimize unmet expectations and drama. They also can be a comfort when the pace of life picks up. I hope you find your groove quickly and easily and have a great 2021-2022 school year! What benefits does your family get out of having routines? Comment below and let us know!

Catch ya later,

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