How To Make The Most Of The School Run
Mar 28, 2023
Your alarm goes off and you automatically hit the snooze button with the hope of getting in an extra few minutes before the morning grind starts. If you're like many parents whose children go to School, you'll soon be doing the obligatory school run.
For many parents, the school run can be a stressful and rushed experience. Trying to get your children ready and out the door on time can be a challenge, and often it feels like there's just not enough time in the morning to get everything done. Driving/walking past other fellow school runners you can often catch a glimpse of a stressed face, caught up in the morning traffic. At the gates, you'll see the early birds already going inside and the latecomers sprinting in. Some days you could be forgiven for thinking it an Olympic Sport in itself! At the gates, parents will be giving a hurried kiss to the little darlings, or shouting a last-minute "don't forget your lunchbox".
However, there are a few things you can do to make the most of your time on the way to school and ensure that your day gets off to a good start. After all, even if it lasts only 10 minutes, multiply that by the morning, and after-school run five days a week. That's a whopping 60 MINUTES A WEEK or 4-5 hours PER MONTH!
Have you ever thought about things you can do at that time to be more productive? I don't mean anything tedious to add to your already hectic day, but how about incorporating something fun, useful, and even beneficial? After all, you probably can't change the time it takes but you can absolutely change how you utilise it.
Here Are Our Top Tips For Things To Do On The Way To the school Run:
- Make A Plan For The Day Ahead
While you're driving or walking to school, take a few moments to plan out your day. Think about any appointments or meetings you have scheduled, and make a mental to-do list of tasks that need to be completed. This can help you feel more organised and prepared for the day ahead, and ensure that you don't forget anything important.
- Have A Chat With Your Child
The school run can be a great time to catch up with your child and have a chat about their day. Ask them how they're feeling, if they have any concerns or worries, or if there's anything they're looking forward to. This can help you build a stronger relationship with your child and create a positive start to their day.
- Listen To The News Or A Podcast
If you have a long commute to School, listening to the news or a podcast can be a great way to pass the time. Choose something that you enjoy and find uplifting or something that can help you learn and grow, such as a personal development podcast. This can also be a great time to have discussions or even friendly debates with children on current affairs topics!
- Practice Prayers
The school run can be a hectic and stressful time, but it's also an opportunity to practice prayers, supplications and even reading the Quran. This is a perfect time to recite your morning supplications. It's on the way to School that as children, my siblings and I learned the duaa (supplication) for traveling as well as numerous others. This can help you feel calmer and more centered, and better able to handle any challenges that come your way.
5. Play Games
These games are not only fun but also great for developing children's cognitive and social skills. They can also help to make the school run a more enjoyable experience for both parents and children.
- I Spy This classic game is perfect for keeping kids entertained on the school run. Take turns choosing an object you can see and giving a clue, such as "I spy with my little eye something blue." The other person then tries to guess what it is.
- Alphabet game Choose a category, such as animals or food, and take turns naming something in that category that starts with each letter of the alphabet. For example, A is for apple, B is for banana, C is for cherry, and so on.
- 20 questions One person thinks of an object, and the other person has to guess what it is by asking yes-or-no questions. They can ask up to 20 questions before making a guess.
- Word association One person says a word, and the other person has to say another word that's associated with it. For example, if the first word is "dog," the second word might be "cat," and so on.
- Memory game One person says a sentence, and the other person has to repeat it back, adding another sentence to the end. The game continues until someone forgets a sentence or gets them in the wrong order.
In conclusion, the school run doesn't have to be a stressful and rushed experience! By using this time to make a plan for the day ahead, have a chat with your child, listen to the news or a podcast, practice duaas, or play games, you can make the most of your time and start your day off on the right foot. Try incorporating some of these tips into your routine and see how it impacts your day.
