Leaving a child’s packed lunch at home ranks as British parents’ top back to school nightmare. Over half (51%) of mums and dads admit they’ve abandoned lunchboxes at home following the summer holidays.
Additional back to school blunders include carrying their child’s bag back home with them (40%) and neglecting to ensure the car is charged or filled with petrol (31%) before departing. Indeed, 57% overall confessed they had overlooked something crucial on the first day back. And for 63%, the return to the school run in September represents the most stressful period of the year, according to the survey by electric vehicle (EV) charging provider Pod.
Being organised doesn’t simply assist children in getting on with their day; 52% of parents stated it would provide them with enhanced peace of mind whilst 32% reckoned it would restore vital minutes of time.
To assist Brits in surviving September school stress, Pod enlisted parenting psychologist Laverne Antrobus to share useful tips to make the return to routine more manageable.
She commented: “The school run isn’t just a drive – it’s a challenging obstacle course; juggling uniforms, breakfast, packed lunches, permission slips, and a thousand tiny details that are all urgent at once, including getting yourself ready.”
To guarantee children aren’t missing their sandwiches or textbooks due to parental mishaps, she recommended a few “simple changes” to maintain school run organisation. Creating a weekly menu with pre-prepared packed lunches offers variety and prevents the morning rush or forgetting an essential school meal.
Laverne also recommends hanging uniforms together the night before for easy access the next morning.
Another useful tip is to maintain an emergency car kit with handy items such as a hairbrush and ties, wet wipes, and a water bottle and snacks.
She also proposes creating a ‘countdown playlist’ that starts 10 minutes before departure so children are aware of the time constraint.
Those owning an EV – or planning to purchase one – can avoid the rush to refuel or charge by choosing a subscription like Pod’s £40-a-month Pod Drive subscription that takes care of charging for you.
Pod CEO Melanie Lane stated: “As a mum of three, I know first-hand that busy families already have enough on their plate, especially during the chaos of getting kids back to school. That’s why Pod is here to help and make the school run one less thing to worry about.
“For those with an EV or thinking about making the switch, our Pod Drive subscription offers total peace of mind – because not only will you wake up with a full charge ready to go, you’ll also know it’s covered by one simple monthly fee for all your charging needs.”
