'I’ve been a primary school parent for 6 years. Here’s a very honest recap of how we prepare for the week.'

I’ll be honest. Come Sunday afternoon, I can already feel the pull of the school week ahead. My mind is usually buzzing trying to remember the mental load of what we all have going on ahead of us that week. This year I’ll have all three kids in primary school too. 

But alas, I usually (don't hold me to it) have it all under control by each Sunday afternoon for the coming week, using a few easy prep solutions. They work for us and make the flow of the school week chaos a heap better.

Here are the 5 game-changers we follow in our house to prepare for the school week.

1. Prep lunches and snacks in advance Sunday afternoon

Prep fruit and veggies as much as you can. I pre-wash and dry fruits and veggies before they initially go into their containers, so they're fresh and ready to go before the week even starts. The same goes with lunchboxes: if I can pre-make any wraps or sandwiches, I do (to help save time for future-me!) and pack as many lunchboxes as I can that will stay fresh. Snacks like carrots can be sliced and kept in an airtight jar of water, there for you to take them out as you need. Trust me, it actually works!

My biggest rule for school lunches is that it's my opportunity for them to be eating well, getting in servings of fruit/veg during the day, some homemade baked goods if there's time, wholemeal breads, and better-for-you kind of snacks, too. They, of course, get their fair share of treats and foods out and about, and during school holidays! But in the school week, our version of 'healthier' doesn't have to be ~boring~, as cliché as it might sound!

It's tricky to find packet snacks that have some solid nutritious boxes ticked, and also don't taste like cardboard. I found Table of Plenty’s Mini Rice Cakes, they've been a winner with my three primary schoolers. I think because of the toppings it feels like they're getting a bit of a cheeky treat, without realising they're actually full of goodness being made of wholegrain rice.

Image: Supplied. 

Belgian Dark Chocolate is definitely the fave, and then Triple Berry Yoghurt one for my youngest daughter, my son goes between the Salted Caramel and Milk Chocolate (they're not on the Dark train with me just yet). My kids are not gluten intolerant, but two of their friends are and these have come in handy at sports training when their friends are around to share. I’ll admit I usually stash one in my handbag on the way out the door, and I keep some in the console in the car. 

Finding something you can just grab and not have to prep yourself is a lifesaver, and not just for the school week. We also have swimming lessons, drama, netball, soccer and baseball throughout the year, so popping these in their sports bags is brilliant to eat on the way or in between.

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I also have clear containers in the fridge that organise some of our snacks, and where the lunchboxes sit, so the kids can grab them easily to pack their own lunches.

Similar to our pantry, they're all in one designated section ready to pick and go. (That is also a tip, get them to learn to pack their own lunches at least and fill up drink bottles).

I also bake snacks and freeze into portions that the kids can grab in its own freezer drawer, which will thaw by recess.

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2. Have a school station(s)

Right by our garage door we have hooks and shelves, where the kids' school bags go as soon as they walk through the doors. Same for their school hats, their school shoes and school sneakers (there's even a little shelf for their handballs or other school bits and pieces). They know as soon as they are home everything gets hung here. Their library bags too. This way everything is easy to find and pack, even in a mad rush of a school morning.

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We also have a cabinet in our dining area that we call the ‘school cabinet’. Here lives rolls of clear contact, spare school supplies, all school hair accessories for the girls and hair brushes. We keep ALL the school socks here too, and school jumpers. Super easy to find and take.

If they bring any folders or readers home from school, we will place them here. This way everyone knows where to find all school-related admin!

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3. Get a whiteboard

An underrated one, which helps heaps! Especially once the kids can read. Keep it simple though. Mine just has 7 large spaces. 

We have it up in the kitchen, and although it’s mainly a planner for me, the kids can see what they have on, whether it be PE day, library day or training in the afternoon. It's key that everyone's across the plan.

4. Designated uniform drawer

The least amount of times a child asks me "MUM, WHERE'S MY JUMPER?", the better.

Each child has a drawer in their room that has their folded uniform items, such as shorts and their PE/sports tracksuits. There is a divider so that all their sports uniforms also go in here, training uniforms, even shin pads and swimmers/caps for swimming. That way it’s easy for them to find (without me) – always!

5. Uniforms for the week ironed and hung

Not every uniform needs to be ironed, but ours need a press. I have these hung up in their wardrobe ready to go – if I'm feeling really organised they are sitting in their wardrobe in order of wear for the week. 

I find if everything has its own place and everyone in the house knows about it, it really makes for smoother mornings, and smoother afternoons. I still sometimes get to the gate right as the bell is going because someone tried on 4 different pairs of socks because they didn’t like the seam on their toe, or yes, we have arrived at school without the hat. 

But as the years go by this is what works for us, and if all three littles are co-operating in the morning, we (might) get off to a great start for the week.

Shop Table of Plenty's naturally crunchy wholegrain Mini Rice Cakes from your nearest Woolies, Coles and independent supermarkets.

Feature Image: Supplied.