Mom Hack: Using Planners for Kids’ Homework

For us modern moms raising children and managing family life with our husbands, the to-do list never seems to end, does it? Between school, meals, and everything in between, it’s easy to feel like the tasks are multiplying faster than you can keep up. If we’re not mindful and deliberate in our planning—using planners that actually work for us—all those chores and constant demands can turn into a wild multi-headed beast that just keeps growing. And let’s be real, that kind of pressure can take a serious toll on our well-being.

That’s why finding a planning system that actually works for you is so important—and trust me, it took me some time to figure this out. For me, physical planners have been a lifesaver. They help bring some calm to the chaos, keeping everything organized and manageable, even when I’m juggling kids’ homework, science projects, and all their extracurriculars. Planners let me see the big picture without feeling like I’m drowning in details.

If you’re also looking for ways to simplify your planning and stay on top of everything your child needs, stick with me. I’ve got some easy-to-follow tips that will help us moms breathe a little easier, even when that to-do list tries to grow extra heads!

It All Starts with a Strong Schoolwork Routine

One of the best ways to ensure that you and your child aren’t constantly stressed and rushing around is to cultivate a healthy routine. This goes for everything, be it planned meals, free time, or schoolwork. Children thrive on predictability, and one of the best things you can do as a parent is to create a safe and structured environment for them.

Whether it’s homework from school or homeschool assignments, completing their work is far from any kid’s favorite activity. But if you establish the routine of doing it at a consistent time each day—such as right after coming home from school or after a homeschool lesson—it will eventually become a habit. You can also sit down together to discuss any upcoming tests or big projects, and note them in your calendar. This way, you can all plan ahead and avoid those last-minute surprises.

Using an Erin Condren organization calendar or a similar planner, you can show your kids the plans and explain your reasoning behind the schedule. This will help them understand and accept their routine more easily, and eventually, they’ll get used to completing their schoolwork without needing to be told when it’s time.

One Planner for All Your Needs

Routine helps your kids stay centered, and having a big planner with all the to-dos and important dates helps you stay centered as well. Instead of wrestling with mounds of post-its or trying to remember everything, invest in a planner that will hold absolutely everything that’s happening in your life, from your business meetings to your period.

Some people opt for a digital planners with easily adjustable alerts to help them stay on track, some people prefer having a physical notebook in their hands. It’s up to you to find the approach that works for you and tweak it to your needs.

You can color-code your planners by urgency or type of activity so that you can record homework due dates, test dates, and project deadlines and see at a glance what the priority for the next week is. This way, you’re not caught off-guard by last-minute projects or forgotten tests, and you’ll avoid scheduling conflicts when it comes to family events, sports practices, or any other tasks that require your presence and energy. A well-organized planner will help you give you a bird’s-eye perspective of the entire week or month ahead, allowing for better planning and time management, which means less stress and more time for yourself and your kids.

Let Your Kids Help with Planning

Planning several weeks in advance can get overwhelming, especially if there’s a lot going on with you and your children. A great way to destress the planning process and also bond with your kids is to let them in on using planners.

A lot of people need to develop their time management skills as adults because their whole lives somebody planned things for them. This can narrow their ability to think outside the box and expect others to organize their time while they simply execute tasks. To prevent this from happening to your kids, why not start them young by introducing them to planners?

A simple way to plan your week together is to sit down on a Sunday afternoon and dedicate 30 minutes to talking about school, upcoming assignments, and tests, and then put them all in your planner. You can talk them through your process, familiarize them with prioritization, and then nudge them toward learning how to prioritize their tasks by themselves over time. Not only will your kids learn the importance of time management and responsibility, but you’ll also spend quality time together, so you’ll have a classic win-win situation.

Making Planners Work for You and Your Family

Staying on top of your kids’ homework and many additional activities that come up can become a lot to handle, but honing your planning skills and allowing your children to do the same as they get older is a game-changer. Strong planning will help you keep a clear head in times of emergency (which will still happen), and having a developed routine will let your kids know what to expect every day when they come home.

This doesn’t mean that every minute of every day needs to be scheduled, though it may be tempting to do just that. Leave room for flexibility whenever you can, because planning is an amazing tool, but it’s those unplanned moments of connection and fun that your kids will always cherish.

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!