School is just around the corner

Hard to believe that the summer vacation is almost over and school will be starting back for many next week. Which means busy mornings of fixing breakfast, making sure backpacks are ready to tote off (with the homework in them!) and all the other last minute chores before rushing out of the door each morning.

There are a few tips that can make things a little less painless:

•  Do things the night before, such as have all the homework and items needed for any classes packed in the book-bag ready to go.  And have your child pick out their outfit for the next day and have it laying out where it is easy and quick to get to.
• Set a routine each morning so that the kids get into the habit of following it. When they know what to expect each morning it makes things a little easier. 
• Breakfast before school is definitely a good habit for children to have. And there are a few ways to save time with breakfast as well:

Instead of having to heat up your stove and drag out pots and pans every morning for breakfast, it might be a good idea to invest in a multiple use unit that can be used to make waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, and more. Then you just have one thing to clean up each morning instead of a sink full. A good example of one of these units would be a griddle grill waffle maker Black & Decker makes one called the Black and Decker G48TD 3-in-1 Grill Griddle and Waffle Maker:

What are your tips for making back-to-school easier?