19 Items to Help Get Them Out the Door

Back-to-school season should really be called back-to-the-morning-routine season. It's time to embrace the chaos of waking, dressing, brushing, cleaning, eating, packing, shoelace tying, searching (and more searching), before running out the door. We can't promise it will be as easy as that, but our editor's picks for this month should help.

We're forever telling them to look on the bright side, so take a cue from these unshakably happy Festiva Smiley Knobs from Lee Valley Tools. Made from strong, durable and fade-resistant plastic, they are strong enough to hold backpacks, coats, or just a much-loved hat. Order one in each of their favourite colours and you'll really give them something to smile about.

What's black, and white, and red all over? We might be rusty on old punch lines, but not at picking out décor accessories that are sleek and slick enough for older kids. Mount these by the door your kids use to help them conquer the difficult task of throwing their coats and hats in the same place, every time they come in. No joke. (Available in black, white, red, yellow, cobalt and crystal.)

If you've all outgrown the toddler art easel you're still using as a central messaging spot, it's time for an upgrade. Now that playing school is out and real school is in, you need something more serious. Small enough to fit on a wall near the main exit and entrance areas, the Umbra chalkboard talks to them as they walk out, reminding them, and you, about t-ball, tomorrow's test, and team try-outs. Word up.

Our desk calendar was useful…when we could find it (which was rarely). So we decided to hang it up for good—literally. Pottery Barn's Magnetic Whiteboard Calendar has room to write in (and wipe off) each month's schedule and the included magnets allow for sticking up relevant paperwork or keepsake notes. In typical Pottery Barn style, the calendar's classic look will match any décor and the wall mount will ensure everyone and everything is where they are supposed to be—including the calendar itself.

We're keen on our fridge keeping things cool but we'd given up on magnets that keep it looking that way until we came across these super cool ones from Lee Valley. This set of three chrome-plated steel magnets, covered with a soft pad to prevent scratching any appliance, can hold up to 12 pages each. If the front of your fridge is cluttered with reminders and to-do's, these magnets prove how strong things are when it comes to the law of attraction.

Put someone else in charge of the morning rush this fall. Next to their hockey coach, there's no better motivator than Father Time and a large wall clock to keep things moving (not to mention add a useful accessory to your home décor). Restoration Hardware's Vintage London Clock won't look out of place anywhere and should help keep everyone in the family on time. We have no second thoughts about this recommendation.

We were serially-stressed about cereal spillage in our home. We loved the growing independence breakfasting on their own in the am represented, but repeatedly cleaning up spilled flakes was making us a little crusty. Then we learned about Budeez The Box Topper Lids. When we popped one on top of their favourite morning munchies, it was suddenly smooth ‘cerealing' thanks to this ingeniously simple device that turns cereal boxes into easy-pour objects, while still keeping the contents fresh.

While plastic is anything but perfect, we occasionally forget our eco-shopping bags and end up with copious quantities of the contraband. At least we can reuse these earthly evil-doers for when we need to keep foul-smelling school shoes wrapped up in the backpack or send a back-up set of clothes to preschool. SimpleHuman's wall or cabinet-mounted grocery bag holder will keep your plastics hidden away but contained until you need them in a hurry. Hurray!

For years we've been in the closet (usually searching for that other shoe or misplaced library book). Isn't it time to come clean? Keep essentials—coats, bags—in the closet and find a new home for rainy day items like boots and umbrellas. Ikea's Knodd Bin, available in a variety of colours, lets the kids drop in their wet, rainy gear on the way in and makes everything accessible when they head back out.

Names will never hurt you, it's true, but adding them to the front of cubbies or baskets near the door can keep everything simple for your preschooler, or, for that matter, your pre-med student (yes, they could still be living with you then, too). Mabel's Labels offers a package of 30 personalized labels in a variety of colours to keep things organized between siblings, between activities and even between the days of the week. Sometimes, labels are a good thing.

Even though the hectic routine of getting school-age kids out the door, fully loaded, might make your life resemble a sitcom some mornings, you know it's no laughing matter. This large, mesh basket ladder from Solution Stores is great for any high-traffic area with available wall space. Easily mounted with mounting hardware (included), it's great for inside cabinets too.

We all have something to hide. If your space is cramped and you only have room for one storage item, make it a basket with a lid that will hide their hats, small backpacks, an extra pair of shoes and more. Pier 1's Water Hyacinth Box with lid is more cultured than kid cute. It won't clutter up a small space, but will be the go-to spot for everything they need going out the door.

After a summer of carefree living, where their flip flops and towels get left outside and they hardly wear any clothes, it's time for the new regime. This means that in your home, there is once again a place for everything, and everything has a place. Start the new routine with bright, modern, storage cubbies. With any luck, they'll be inspired to stick to the plan and stick their stuff inside after school, making for easier mornings. Good luck, and may the force of fine organizational skills be with you.

Frozen fruits, French toast, pancakes and baked breads can all be time savers in the morning. Just be sure to wrap them well and label with Kitchen Craft Home Made Freezer Labels. Available in packs of 60 and with pre-labeled headers (Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Fruit), these clever labels will ensure you grab the right grub, at the right time.

Sometimes it's the little things, like when a well-timed morning routine can suddenly become derailed by small necessities. Err, make that accessories. Keep things on the straight (or wavy) with a stack of barrettes, clips and elastics in a drawer or small container near the door. These multi-coloured hair clips should complement any outfit, no matter how many times they change before school.

Bring it down a notch. If their toothbrushes are usually located upstairs, pick up an extra set for the downstairs kitchen or powder room, making it easy to remember to keep it clean, orally, before the first bell. For even easier (and some say cleaner) morning mouth management, adults and older kids, seven and up, may benefit from Soladey's Light Activated Ionic Toothbrushes, which use ionic power to clean, making toothpaste unnecessary.

Been working out all summer? Then you should be in great shape for the marathon du papier we're all about to embark on. As sheets, and sheets, and sheets of (hopefully recycled) paper come home for you to fill out, make it easy to keep everything together, including your sanity, and pick up an Eco Staple Free Stapler for the home office/kitchen/car/wherever you realistically will be signing their lives away. A simple suggestion, yes, but one we think will totally grab you this September.

Transitioning into a blended family just got easier with the Bamix Immersion Blender. Great for making baby food, it's also perfect for when the kids get older, since the easiest thing to get into them before they run out the door is a smoothie filled with goodness. This baby quickly chops, purees, beats, mixes, blends, stirs and emulsifies. And did we mention it's much lighter than a full-size mixer or blender? That's one smooth operator. (We meant both you and the blender.)

Were we naive in expecting ‘smart' phones to live up to their billing? When it comes to calendar programs, we sometimes find there's no sign of intelligent life. For iPhone users, the smart money is on Week Calendar by UtiliTap. Their program allows you to see all your appointments for the week, not just daily or monthly, in one, organized view. You may still end up being late for a very important date, just don't try to blame it on your phone anymore (that's what kids are for). For iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.