Run for it! You will need six dice for this game. Roll dice and look for runs (sequences) starting with 1 (so 1, 1-2, 1-2-3 and so on). Each die that is part of a run scores five points. There can be more than one run in each roll. For example, say you rolled following combination: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 5. You would score 5 points for first 1. You would then score 15 points for sequence of 1, 2 and 3, for a total of 20 points for that roll. The first player to reach 100 points is winner.

Going to Boston Use three dice. Roll all three and keep highest. Roll remaining dice and again set aside highest. Roll last die, and add up your total. Write down your score. Play a number of rounds and then either total your points to find winner, or simply count how many rounds were won by each player.

6. Nail up a notice board

Keep a notice board at "base camp" so that you can pin up reminders, invitations, school menus or whatever else you need to keep tabs on.

7. Do it now!

If anything comes home from school that requires your attention, do it immediately. Fill out forms and put them straight back into satchel. Write dates into your diary there and then, and reply same day too. If you postpone it, you will forget it!

8. Give homework a home

Establish a place and time for doing homework and stick to it. Keep dictionaries and other necessary books nearby, as well as a spare set of pencils, rulers and other stationery you might need. Make sure that homework is put back into satchels as soon as it is completed and that satchels are returned to "base camp" straightaway. Get out a kitchen timer if kids are reluctant to start (or finish!)

9. Be prepared

If your car is running short of petrol (gas), fill it up on way home from school in afternoon rather than panicking following morning! As you drive home, run a mental check on whether you have necessary supplies for dinner, and breakfast. Nothing makes kids more miserable in morning than an empty fridge.

10. Get ahead

Set your alarm to wake you up 10 minutes earlier than usual. You will be amazed at how much more in control that 10 minutes will make you feel. And finally, leave for school 5 minutes early. Arriving early takes away an enormous amount of stress and will put your children in right mood for school.

Are you convinced? Start initiating some routines in your school days and you and your kids will feel benefits very quickly. Making sure that your kids feel comfortable and in control before they get to school gives them best possible start to a school day. And once they get used to afternoon and evening routines for homework and preparation for day ahead, nighttimes become more peaceful too.

"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us." ~ John Dryden