Back to school season is a hectic time for the whole family! As custom home builders and proud parents of two “big” kids, we know firsthand all the planning and organization that goes into a successful school year for busy families. Here are some of the ways we stayed sane, and set our kids up for a great year.

Establish Your Routine Early

Kids (especially little kids) generally experience more fatigue than usual when a new school year starts. Between new teachers, new classmates, and a new routine, it’s to be expected with all of the adjustments going on. Give them a head start on adapting to their new schedule by waking them up at the time they’ll be rising once the school year begins. It’s a good idea to start this one to two weeks before the first day. If you’re going to introduce any new independence milestones this year, such as having your child pick their own clothes or make their own breakfast, this is also a good time to practice how that will fit into the morning routine.

Plan Healthy Meals

Planning regular, healthy meals as a part of your child’s daily routine will ensure they stay focused and have enough energy to take on their day. Packing your child’s lunch is the best way to ensure they are eating a well-balanced meal. As busy custom home builders, we know how challenging it can be to get out the door and pack a lunch in the morning, but preparing it the night before is always an option. Many of our luxury custom homes come equipped with a chef’s kitchen, so cooking dinner is easier and more enjoyable than ever. Here are some meal ideas for those school days when you’re a little short on time.

Easy Breakfast Ideas:

• Oatmeal with fruit: great for a quick breakfast
• Veggie scramble: if you’re in a hurry and don’t want to make an omelet, opt for scrambling some eggs, throwing in some of your child’s favorite veggies, and adding shredded cheese
• Kodiak Cakes: protein-filled pancakes– just add water or choose to add eggs & milk!

Easy Lunch Ideas:

• Ham & Cheese Pinwheels: Make a batch for the week by folding ham, mayo, mustard and cheese into crescent rolls and cooking them in the oven
• Pizzadillas: Make a pizza quesadilla by cooking some veggies, pepperoni, and cheese in a flour tortilla
• Chicken salad sandwich on whole grain bread: An easy, protein-rich lunch; make sure to use whole grain bread for the most nutritional value

Don’t forget to include fruits and veggies in your child’s lunch! Here are some ideas:

• Baby carrots
• Green beans
• Peas
• Grapes
• Berries
• Sliced melon
• Apples
• Oranges

Easy Dinner Ideas:

• Oven-Roasted Chicken & Veggies: With a 15 minute cook time and 15 minute prep time, this recipe is perfect for when the kids have sports practice or club meetings until later in the evening; many of our custom homes come with warming drawers– perfect for keeping this dish ready until everyone’s at the table on hectic evenings
• Sloppy Joe From Scratch: This recipe doesn’t call for any questionable seasoning packets, and you can do the prep earlier in the day to serve quickly
• Ginger, Garlic & Chili Shrimp: Few ingredients are required to make this delicious and healthy meal, ready 30 minutes total

Prioritize Organization

Here are some simple ways you can get organized this school year:

• Develop a Chore Checklist: Make a checklist for your child’s chores. Put it in a sheet protector and they can use a dry erase marker to track what has been completed, then reuse.
• Make an “Inbox”: Set up an organizational paper box where your kids can put forms that need signed when they walk in the door
• Create a Backpack Drop-Off Station: Pick a spot in your house, whether a closet or a entryway hook, where you child can drop off their backpack everyday after class. As custom home builders, this is something we think about when designing custom homes for families. We often incorporate organizational cubbies in our mudrooms to provide an ideal space for this.

Your Custom Home Builders

Our passions are family and building custom homes. If you’re looking to build a custom home in Gainesville or the greater Alachua County area, give Norfleet Homes a call at (352) 472-5780 or visit our website to learn more about our three communities– CountryWay Town Square, Finley Woods, and Woods of Alchrist. We know that building your dream home starts with your vision– choose the custom home builders who hear you from day one.