Get into your back to school routine and enter for chances to win $150!

Find something we like to do and stick with it.

I make a detail schedule for the kids and use a different color for each so I can keep track.

We are on the same schedule evry day so we just do the same things every morning and evening.

I like to use a calendar with big oversized spaces for each day. It gives us a quick look at what is happening and we can see if one day has too much going on and we can try to adjust it.
We fill in the school schedule right away and then try to schedule lessons, sports or other activities in a way that doesn't put too much stress on everyone.

We have a dry erase calendar in the kitchen that helps us keep track of appointments. I make out the meals for the week when I do grocery shopping so I know what to make and what to get at the grocery store.

I'm fanatical about my to-do lists - these help me stay organized from week to week!

Start something and stick to it!! This always works for me...=)

We get our family back to a healthy routine by making sure we're in bed early, eating healthy meals, and getting plenty of exercise!

We all know that there are different rules and standards for what we do during the summer as opposed to the school year.

About two weeks before school starts we start doing an earlier bed time during the week, and setting alarms earlier for the morning.

they get a good night's sleep and monitor their sugar intake.

Scott

This time of year things get really busy and hectic and we are SO tempted to run out the door empty bellied. We always have lots of healthy whole grain limited sugar breakfast bars on hand for those days when we just don't have time to sit and eat. They may not be perfect, but I feel breakfast is very important to get the brains started for the long day ahead.

Angie

The most important thing I do this time of year is to pack healthy organic lunches. The lunch program at the schools is extremely lacking in vegetarian choices and has NO organic choices, so I feel the best thing to do is to pack our own.

Balanced meals and plenty of sleep!!! Early bed times!!!

Trying to ensure that clothes are picked out and bookbags are ready the night before, big pluses in getting off to a good start.

Enforcing a reasonable bedtime once school begins is the number one step towards getting back to a healthy routine once school starts. Also sitting down to family dinners on weeknights whenever possible helps us insure the boys are eating healthy meals. Finally, keeping the video games turned off on school nights helps to keep everyone on track so late nights spent on last minute projects are avoided.

We go to bed early and I have posted chores that they are to do before school...

leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com

Blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/10/win-150-from-bl...

But I try to get myself in bed earlier to get plenty of sleep.

Thanks for the contest.

Once school begins, bedtimes are a must. I also plan dinner menus for a month ahead of time. This has really saved me.

Even with our busy school and after school activity schedules we try to make healthy food choices and not run through the drive through just because it is more convenient.
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

I try my best not to let my kids get too far off schedule during the summer so it's not such a shock when school starts again. We definitely have to use our dry erase calendar in the kitchen to keep track of all the important dates and events.

We begin 2 weeks before school starts getting the tweens into a regular sleeping schedule after the Summer no sleep routine. We also use a write on/wipe off calendar to keep track of events and activities.

BrendaLea - The Purple Lady
http://prpldy15.blogspot.com/
prpldy (at) comcast dot net

By starting new things it's easier to get into a "school" mind.

I started with a schedule when school started and we have kept to it - consistancy is the key! I did tweek bath time and reading time a little once school was in the seing of things for a few weeks because it fit better a little later. Since the kids know what to expect there is less complaining and struggling to get them to wind down for night because they know its coming. I also remind them of special events coming up throughout the week that they can be looking forward to the fun things in life :)

We rely on dry-erase calendar and checklists all the time.

I have a large wall calendar that we write the important things we need to do and remember. Each of us has a different color marker to write with, so that it is easy to see each day sand keep on our routine.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Our routine is done by a colored coded calender. Each child has a color marker and all events are marked on the calendar.

I always try to have healthy items available for breakfast for my son. That way he gets his day off to a healthy start. And this year, I said no to school lunches. They are so bad. Now he is sent to school with fruits and healthy sandwiches as well as Fruitables to drink or water. I know he is eating so much better.No

We start prepping for back to school a week before, by going back to our school year schedule. I make sure everyone is getting enough sleep, plenty of healthy foods and lot of water. I maintain sanity by sticking to a schedule and charting everything!
bleatham*at*gmail.com
Live, Laugh, Love

Live like there is no tomorrow, laugh with your whole being, and love like you always wanted to be loved.

I plan out lunch and dinner for each week to make sure there is a variety of fruits, veggies and other healthy items.

To help us get back in the swing, we use chore charts. They mark off their tasks to complete with a marker.

leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com

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Bedtimes to allow for plenty of sleep, start the day with a good breakfast, pack nutritional lunches, allow time for play and family activities, prepare for the next day before going to bed (clothes laid out, homework completed and in backpack,lunches packed, etc)

Everyones' clothes are laid out the night before so they aren't rushing to get ready.

Back to school means I barely see my super busy super active teenager. The one who's a picky eater, has a powerhouse of a metabolism and works out hard. The poor thing is a cranky wreck if he doesn't have the proper nutrients throughout the day. During the summer months I can keep him fortified on all kinds of homemade yum, but during the school year I'll find my creations neatly stacked on his desk, untouched during the school day. So I make sure a special drawer in his bedroom "closet" is stocked with a multi-vitamin, low sugar/low sodium supplement drinks, protein bars and granola bars so that he can bring them to school for a mid-morning snack and have a snack for after school/pre-sports. That coupled with a protein shake or grab and go egg breakfast in the morning, keeps him running and makes our house a much more pleasant place to be when he comes home in the evening.

We keep a container of cleaned cut up veggies in the fridge and dried apple & banana chips on the counter so they have something healthy to eat when they get home.

We start getting to bed earlier about a week before school starts. And I try to incorporate the additional things the kids will need to do prior to school starting so it's not a complete "shock" to their system. My boys are older so we do not use chore charts anymore. They know what they have to do. Do they always do it? No, they don't. They are kids! :) My girls are getting to be the age where charts will be used again.

...getting them up in the morning after allowing them summertime late hours! But I've learned to be firm about bedtime.

A strict bed schedule is a must have for back to school, otherwise, grumpiness rules and that stinks no matter how organized and with good intentions things are.

They always say that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and I make sure my kids always have a healthy breakfast before heading off to school.

http://nightowlmama.blogspot.com

on school nights he has to go to bed early and i make sure he has a full belly before school

Our family always take walks after dinner. Just being able to walk off and digest the food properly goes a long way. Plus it gets everyone outdoors.

Plus we always plan our meals a head, usually on Sundays.

We keep it constant through the summer. Everyone is usually so tired from outdoor activities so it just works out easier.

charityd AT centurytel DOT net

One routine is washing our hands as soon as we come home from school or work

In the summer we buy all the back to school supplies early but mostly plenty of post-its to put on the back of the front door for last minute reminders- bring your coat, take back the school library book etc.

planning ahead is what works the best; when i leave meals to the last minute is where i get into trouble.

Wendy Wallace writes at Let the dog in! ( http://letthedogin.com ) and the Kitsap Sun's Mom Squad ( http://pugetsoundblogs.com/mom-squad ).  

I think the best way to accomplish this is to start off the morning with a home cooked breakfast.
Cooked for the kids and eaten at the table as a family.
This gets the day started for kids and there not rushed out the door.
relaxed and full of good nutrition will make the day much more benefical for the kids.
More alert and able to function in schoomuch better.

we have always tried to encourage our kids to eat plenty of fruits, and so i pack them in their school lunches in one form or another

Getting plenty of sleep and drinking lots of water make better health.

Taking turns. I'll put pajamas on, you brush their teeth. and Vise versa. We strongly dislike bedtime craziness.