Ahh, summertime! School's out and for many working moms it can either mean a change in schedule–whether you take flex or extra long weekends–or new tag-team sitting arrangements to keep the kids busy. So we’ve put together a few plan-ahead ideas from working moms and other experts to help you survive your new summer routine.

Step One for Summer Sanity: Label Everything!
Make sure everything has your family name on it and really important things should also be labeled with a phone number in case they get left behind.  Blogger Julie Cole is mom of six and is a founding partner in Mabel’s Labels, which makes clever adhesive labels for everything you, and your family can imagine. Buy cloth markers in bulk and keep one in the car, too.

Stock up your pantry and freezer:
Ann Marie Ryan of Simply Home for Life has some suggestions. She says, buy bulk paper goods. Keep hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice pops on hand for those spur of the moment BBQs.

Make one big stock-up shopping trip at the start of summer:
Bug spray, hand wipes, sun block, paper towels, napkins, condiments (2 of everything like travel-size ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper, favorite salad dressings), individual snacks, icy push-up pops, reusable ice blocks, small boxes of cereal, reusable water bottles for everyone, canned or plastic bottle drinks. What else does your family like in the summer? Do it once, save time and money later.

Do you have a cooler, cooler bags, large drink Thermos? Ryan suggests: If everyone is home or traveling: fill the water cooler early with water and ice. She suggests, “Keep in the yard. During the day your kids and their friends can help themselves to water and you don’t have to be a waitress.” (That goes for dad or the babysitter, too.)

Other tips from an experienced mom:
Think Safety & Fun:
Go through the kids’ things. Gather together the sand pails, beach balls, Frisbees and other summer toys leftover from last year. Make sure they are in good working order: no sharp edges, broken pieces that might fly into someone’s eye, balls without air, etc. Throw out/replenish now. Organize them in an easy-to-find container to use at home. Keeps sports pieces together. Find bike/skate helmet, gloves, knee pads, elbow pads and make sure they still fit properly. Replace if needed. Put a few extra balls/games in a carrier in the car for down time when you need it. (See more about your car control center below.)

First Aid Kit: If you already have one, go through it now make sure it contains all the basics and that medications have not expired.  If you don’t’ have one, buy or create one today. The Red Cross has a full list of what to include in a comprehensive first aid kit. Print the list. You can order basic kits online directly from Red Cross Store.

You should keep one kit at home and one in each and every car. Every family member should know where it is, but it should be kept out of reach of children. Put the car kit in a small red shoulder bag or backpack to make it easy to take on day trips. red will remind you of what is inside.

Busy Bag: Keep an always-packed age appropriate busy bag–either a colorful zip up tote or back pack–for each kid containing simple light-weight supplies: drawing pad/activity book, crayons/markets and pencils, magnetic puzzle or game, cards, small bag of either animals, dinosaurs, Polly Pocket or some other play set. You will always have something to do on hand. (Electronics should be kept separate so they can be charged).

Make you car the command center:
In addition to your first aid kit and a busy bag, make sure your car is fully stocked with the following:

Sweatshirts/jackets: If you can spare one each, keep them in the car along with enough cheap ponchos for each of you.  You never know!

Long pants: Somehow summer comes and everyone thinks shorts will be enough. It’s worth keeping old sweats or jeans in the car for that night when things cool off quicker than you thought!

Socks and spare sneakers: (again, if you can spare them) These might help little feet that jumped into the car with flip flops on and you plan to run around on grass or hot sand or a walk in the woods.

Bug Spray and Sun block: Don’t get caught without it! So, keep quantities in the car, in the beach bag, in sports bags, the stroller pocket, and wherever else you might be!

Emergency towels/beach blanket.  A couple of beach towels won’t go astray and neither will an old blanket, quilt or sheet.

Picnic tablecloth/s: one plastic cloth can be used as a ground mat for outdoor events either under or instead of a blanket or towel. Have another on hand for impromptu picnic-table covers.

Folding chairs: store them in the car.

Outdoor Toys & Games: Keep a basket or carrier with a few games and outdoor toys in the car for down time when you need it. Double-duty beach towels are printed with oversize games like tic-tac-toe or checkers and come with large harder-to-lose pieces. These are great stand-bys to go (and make great summer birthday gifts).

Snack bag: Prepackaged pretzels or trail mix can stay in the car even in the heat.  Raisins are another good idea. They may save you from hunger, not to mention the kids!
 
Before you go for more than an hour: Remember to pack a cooler with ice, water and other cold drinks, fruit and snacks. Never leave home with it!