Find an extra 15 morning minutes

There's one at every school; the super-composed Mum that turns up on time every morning with hair done, a full face of makeup and the kids neatly turned out with pressed collars and shiny black shoes. How does she do it?

Here's some tips to get out the door on time, every morning.

• Have everyone dressed before breakfast; a bowl of cereal is a more powerful incentive than double maths. Try it: it really works!
• Do a few things the night before, like packing the lunchboxes, signing school forms and setting the breakfast table. You'll buy yourself an extra few precious minutes come the morning.
• It won't be wildly popular, but leave the TV off in the morning. It distracts everyone, you included.
• Give your children jobs to do. Setting the breakfast table, making their own lunches, even little kids can clear plates from the table. The more they do, the less you have to and the faster you're all out the door.
• Be happy. Grumpiness is infectious and a grumpy child is a hard-to-get-out-the-door child. Rather than punish un-co-operative behaviour, use surprises as rewards for being ready on time.