How to Stay Connected with Your Kids During the School Year (Without Losing Your Sanity)

The school year can feel like a whirlwind—between homework, extracurricular activities, and getting dinner on the table, finding time to truly connect with your kids can seem impossible. And let’s be honest, once the school bus pulls up, our little ones enter their own universe of classmates, teachers, and packed schedules. So, how do we, as parents, stay connected with our kids during the busy school year? It’s a challenge, but with a little effort (and a lot of humor), we can make it work.

Here are some realistic, parent-tested ideas for staying close with your kids when life gets crazy.

1. Make the Most of the Commute

Whether you’re dropping your kids off at school or just walking them to the bus stop, that little window of time can be golden for catching up. Sure, you may get a lot of one-word answers (“How was school?” “Fine.”), but it’s all about consistency. Keep asking about their day, and eventually, they might offer more than a shrug.

Parent Humor Moment: Sometimes, you have to be okay with “fine” being the peak of communication at 7 a.m. after they’ve only just woken up.

Pro Tip: Play their favorite music or podcast in the car. It might not be your taste, but at least it keeps the conversation flowing and gives you a glimpse into what they’re interested in. Trust me, this has always been a win for us and turns out, our kids have better taste in music than I thought they would.

2. Family Dinner (Yes, It’s Still a Thing)

Family dinners can feel like a myth, but sitting down together—whether it’s for 15 minutes or an hour—is one of the easiest ways to stay connected. During the school year, dinner is sometimes the only time everyone’s in the same place, so make the most of it. Ask open-ended questions like, “What was the best part of your day?” or “What’s something new you learned?”

Parent Survival Hack: If the conversation is slow, turn it into a game. Try a round of “Two Truths and a Lie,” where everyone shares three things about their day—two true, one false—and the rest of the family guesses.

It’s simple, silly, and a great way to get your kids talking without them realizing they’re actually talking to you.

And if you feel like making dinner is overwhelming or don’t know what to makes, we love getting Beehive Meals to be our base of the meal. Just throw one of these in the crockpot and then you have nothing to worry about…well, until dinner time. Check them out and use code MODERNDAD for a discount.

3. Set a Weekly “Date” with Each Kid

We know—life is busy. But carving out a little one-on-one time with each of your kids can make a world of difference. Maybe it’s grabbing a quick ice cream after school or playing a game they love for 20 minutes before bed. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, but that dedicated time sends a message that you’re there for them, no matter what.

Parent Reality Check: Scheduling time with each kid might sound impossible (we’re tired too, okay?), but even if you do it once a month, it can make a big impact.

4. Help with Homework (Even If You Have No Idea What You’re Doing)

Yes, we know: helping with homework isn’t exactly quality bonding time. In fact, math homework might be the fastest way to drive a wedge between you and your kid. But being available, even if it’s just for moral support (or to Google the answers), shows your kids you’re invested in their school life.

And hey, if you can’t figure out how to divide fractions, at least you’re showing them that parents don’t know everything—and that’s okay. I have loved helping my kids with their homework, but sometimes I get frustrated too. Not that I don’t understand, I read too much into what exactly it is the teacher is wanting and then make it harder for all of us. But, we still are getting the right answer, and that’s what matters–right?

Parent Humor: “I don’t understand your homework either” is a perfectly valid way to bond, right?

5. Create Evening or Weekend Rituals

Maybe it’s a movie night on Fridays, family game night on Sundays, or just reading a chapter of a book together before bed. Whatever it is, having a consistent family ritual gives everyone something to look forward to. Plus, it provides a guaranteed time to reconnect, even if it’s brief.

Bonus Tip: Let your kids take turns picking the activity or movie. You might end up watching animated talking animals more often than you’d like, but hey, it’s about the quality time.

6. Check-In Without Pressure

Sometimes, the best way to connect with your kids is by not hovering. It’s important to give them space, especially as they get older. Instead of pressing them for details about every little thing, find casual ways to check in. Maybe it’s tossing a ball in the backyard while chatting or just sitting next to them on the couch while they play video games.

Humor Moment: The key is to act like you’re not trying too hard, even though you definitely are.

The school year might feel like a blur, but it doesn’t have to come between you and your kids. By finding small, meaningful ways to stay connected—whether through dinner conversations, weekend rituals, or simply being there when they need you—you’re building stronger bonds that will last long beyond report cards and school projects. It’s all about making the most of those everyday moments, even when life gets hectic. After all, parenting is all about showing up, even if sometimes that just means sitting through one more episode of their favorite (and very repetitive) cartoon.