Back to School means back to our regular old routine. Setting alarm clocks, a quick breakfast and then everyone heading off to school. Being a busy family and being able to stay connected no matter where you are is important to me. Especially with kids in sports and after school activities, I like knowing how and where they are. Here’s a few Back To School Tips I use to keep my busy family connected. This post about tips to keep families connected for back to school is sponsored as part of my participation in the Straight Talk Testers Ambassador Program. Opinions are my own.

Back To School Tips To Keep Busy Families Connected

I don’t know about your family, but mine seem to all scamper off in different directions once school starts. It seems life should get easier and give me a bit more quite time with everyone gone all day. Not so much. And after school, even worse. This one has ball games, that one has after school activities, the hubby has a working dinner we need to attend… And somewhere in between running errands, cooking dinner and cleaning the house, I still need to work and play chauffeur to get everyone where they need to be. If anyone says they have fool-proof back to school tips, I think they are kind of fibbing. But, here’s a few things that work for us. And keep me a bit more sane then flying by the seat of my pants.

Back To School Tips

Keep an actual calendar. Here, we have a large one big enough to fit everyone’s activities written down on for each day. I try to fill in as much as I can every Sunday night for the whole week ahead. The kids each have their own specific colored marker we use for their daily activities. It makes it easy to know who needs to be where at any given time/day. They can easily just look for their color and know what the plan for the day is. Let me tell you, it makes my daily planning way easier and much more organized. A little secret back to school tip from me to you… pencil in some alone time for yourself a few times a week. Writing it down, really helps me take the breaks I need to clear my head and not turn into Momzilla!

Since everyone seems to have smartphones these days, text each other a couple times a day just to check in. Also, make sure all the plans you have on the paper calendar are put into each phone’s calendar as well. Be sure your family is sharing those! Smartphones really help families stay connected and in touch. And on ‘those days’ when everything that can go awry, schedule changes are all easier done with a smart phone and a good data plan. One simple update in anyone’s shared calendar lets everyone know things have changed.

And, the very 1st day of school is the perfect time to make sure your devices are up to date so they can perform properly. Sort of like changing the smoke alarm batteries at the same time every year, back to school tips like this one are practical as well. Updating apps and security on your devices is important. It also allows that all important calendar to keep running smooth!

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*Disclaimer: At 2G speed, the functionality of some data applications such as streaming video or audio may be affected. All currently active Straight Talk BYOP customers will also receive the first 5 GB Data at High Speeds at the start of their next 30 day cycle. Please refer always to the Terms and Conditions of Service at StraightTalk.com.

What are your back to school tips for keeping busy families connected?