Weekend Prep that SAVES your week!

Here are 5 ways to make your week easier.

1. Uniforms

2. Packed Lunches

3. Snacks

4. Sports clubs

5. Homework plan

And read to the end for my extra tips.

As a working Nanny, I live this week in and week out.

Uniform

To make the mornings easier, by the time I have left on for the weekend, I have already put out the uniforms in order complete with underwear and socks.

While I do do an evening check, the amount of effort I have to do is a lot less.

The children know to put on the correct uniform by the order, as now schools ask them to wear PE kit on PE days rather than changing - a little list of the days and uniform can help but with younger learners, they don't actually know what day it is, so the order works.

Check out the extra tip below to make it even more seamless.

Packed Lunch

Meal planning reduces a lot of decision fatigue but I go a little extra, by planning what dinners I can batch cook and then reuse for packed lunches.

In the fridge, I used a shelf that was reachable by the children with a weeks worth of smoothies, suckable yoghurts, fruit and veg for them to add to their packed lunch in the morning.

This gives them autonomy and independence and reduces the amount you have to do in the morning.

Snacks

I create snack stations for a grab and go effect. Ensuring there are carrots sticks and blueberries in the fridge. Bananas in the fruit bowl.

Sometimes, fresh snacks won't cut it but we can provide raisin packets, dried fruit, and choosing processed foods carefully.

The children choose snacks when there is a club or if we have inset days and holidays. We want to encourage our children to listen to their bodies for hunger and full cues.

With all I do, the goal is to support independence so your mornings are more automatic.

Sports Clubs

With many siblings, there are football kits, netball kits, swimming kits, cricket, golf with not just the items of clothing but the necessary shin pads, mouth guards, gloves, bats, clubs but different trainers too. Sometimes, there are two clubs in one day so getting it all done before the week starts means it is just checking its all good to go the day before. I put this with their uniform with the correct day.

Homework

Homework has got a little ridiculous if you ask me AND I am an ex-teacher. I will write another blog on my top tips for homework but here is how to sort it to reduce homework stress in the week to come.

To ensure they are not overwhelmed, ask them to count the pages or questions they have to do. We then remember which days we have available to do said homework, as above, some days are filled with double clubs meaning it is unrealistic and will end up unproductive attempting anything on those days. We then divide the amount of homework by the amount of free days. This means there is a plan in place, we have no arguments about doing it as it is transparent and broken down into manageable pieces (this child is studying for the 11+)

Extra, Extra! Read all about it!

Uniforms- When setting up the uniforms, I check the weather for the following week to decide whether to add leggings or skort, vest or no vest, socks or tights. This also gives you heads up for sun cream or raincoats!

Snacks- Remember, raisins cling to the teeth and the natural sugars cause decay. Extra brushing maybe required.

Sports kits-With the extra bits that are needed for sports, have one place where you keep them, this is not just so the child can be autonomous but for whatever reason, everyone in the household knows too.

Here is to a calm week ahead!

Kat x

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