School Run Made Simple: 3 Top Hacks for Busy Mornings

Getting kids ready for school can be a whirlwind of chaos, from tying ties to packing lunches. Enter Casey Major-Bunce, aka The Queen of Hacks, with her time-saving solutions to make mornings smoother. Struggle with ties? Casey’s foolproof tie hack is perfect for kids (and adults!). Shoe tying woes? Her simple shoelace method is a game-changer. Plus, transform packed lunches with her genius flask hack to keep meals warm and delicious. Say goodbye to stress and hello to hassle-free mornings!

Tie Hack

Children genuinely struggle with tying a tie, and there are so many ways to do it, whether it is a Half Windsor, Cafe Knot or a Trinity Knot; it can be quite confusing! Not all schools allow clip-ons, and I know this is something I’ve struggled with even as an adult. With the added stress of getting to school on time and ensuring you have everything, it’s a lot to remember, especially when parents may have work! Older children often have to take matters into their own hands and get themselves sorted for school. This is also part of them learning those all-important independence skills.

Here’s my step-by-step guide on how to hack tying a tie:

1. Hold the big side of the tie in one hand and let it rest on your forearm.

2. With the smaller side of the tie, drape it around the tie and your arm.

3. Take the first loop and pull it under the second loop. Pull through the loop and ta da! You’ve successfully tied your tie.

Now we’re going to move a little bit further down, but still looking for an easy solution for tying!

Shoelace Hack

Tying shoes can still be a challenging task and let’s be honest, not just for children, but sometimes us adults too. Even my brother with dyspraxia in his late 20s was blown away when I showed him this simple little hack. It’s something I have taught all my children to help them tie their laces and I don’t think they’d do it any other way now!

1.      Lace the shoe as normal.

2.      Put the top of the shoelace (aglet) through the holes on their respective sides, but not all the way.

3.      You should have two loops on either side that look a bit as though the shoes have ears.

4.      Take those loops and tie them together in a knot as you would usually.

5.      You can even double-knot them to make them a little more secure!

Packed lunch flask hack

As the colder months approach and your kids start turning their noses up at sandwiches, it’s the perfect time to break out the trusty flask! This is one of my favourite mum hacks that I swear by. You can fill it with all sorts of comforting meals like pasta, soup, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, and peas.

Here’s how to do it: 

Start by preheating the flask with boiling water for about 10 minutes. While that’s warming up, pop your chosen meal into the air fryer or microwave, making sure everything is heated thoroughly. Once it’s piping hot, transfer it to the flask.

A little tip: if you’re using fish fingers or chicken nuggets, place a bit of kitchen roll at the bottom of the flask. This helps to absorb any excess moisture, keeping your food crispy instead of soggy!

Follow Casey Major-Bunce aka The Queen of Hacks @MajorMumHacks.