As the new academic year begins, parents across the South East are viewing the September rush as a prime opportunity to reset family life, though new research indicates many expect their best intentions to falter before the month ends.
A survey of primary school parents conducted by SuperNutrio High Protein, High Calcium Milk reveals that 77% of mums and dads in the region see the back to school period as a second chance to establish better routines. Topping the wishlist are everyday goals like enforcing bedtimes (55%), ensuring regular tooth brushing (52%), setting screen time boundaries (45%), and chatting about the school day (44%).
TOP 15 BACK-TO-SCHOOL HABITS SOUTH EAST PARENTS HOPE TO STAY ON TOP OF
| 1. Go to bed on time | 55% |
| 2. Brush teeth | 52% |
| 3. Boundaries around screen time | 45% |
| 4. Chat about what happened at school | 44% |
| 5. Uniform is clean | 44% |
| 6. Check and empty backpacks for forgotten fruit, homework and letters from school | 42% |
| 7. Do reading with my child / children every night | 42% |
| 8. Kids hair brushed and styled neatly | 35% |
| 9. Make sure homework gets done on the night it is given | 34% |
| 10. Not be late for school | 34% |
| 11. Leave the house without nagging | 32% |
| 12. Pack a healthier packed lunch | 30% |
| 13. Staying on top of school emails | 28% |
| 14. Give them a better more nutritious breakfast | 26% |
| 15. Uniform is ironed | 26% |
Avoiding the daily morning scramble remains a central challenge. Over a third of parents (34%) are determined to beat the school bell, 23% hope to avoid forgetting PE kits, and 25% promise to pick up their children punctually. Additionally, 32% expressed a strong desire to leave the house without launching into a full blown nagging match.
For 16% of South East parents, however, the effort is abandoned altogether, with respondents confessing their total school run strategy is to simply wing it.
According to the study, 62% of parents expect to abandon their first new habit within the first month, with 27% anticipating failure within the very first week. On average, regional parents expect their new routines to last just 25 days. Leaving the house without nagging (12%) was identified as the habit most likely to be dropped first, followed by going to bed on time (11%), clearing out school backpacks (9%), and reading with their children nightly (7%).
Despite these challenges, 52% of parents acknowledge that long term success lies in focusing on small, bite sized goals rather than attempting an immediate overnight overhaul.
Mornings present further hurdles for parental self care, with 31% of parents reporting they rarely find time to eat breakfast themselves. While 26% hope to serve a more nutritious breakfast to their children this term, 25% cite picky eating as a major barrier.
Social expectations also add pressure, with 40% of South East parents feeling compelled to present a polished and controlled morning routine to others. For 47% of these parents, the drive to project composure is primarily personal, helping them feel better about themselves. When mornings do go according to plan, 38% celebrate by enjoying a hot cup of tea or coffee while it is still warm, while 5% choose to unwind later with a glass of wine.
TOP 15 BACK-TO-SCHOOL HABITS SOUTH EAST PARENTS EXPECT TO DROP FIRST
| 1. Leave the house without nagging | 12% |
| 2. Go to bed on time | 11% |
| 3. Check and empty backpacks for forgotten fruit, homework and letters from school | 9% |
| 4. Do reading with my child / children every night | 7% |
| 5. Make sure homework gets done on the night it is given | 7% |
| 6. Boundaries around screen time | 5% |
| 7. Give them a better more nutritious breakfast | 5% |
| 8. Pack a healthier packed lunch | 5% |
| 9. Uniform is ironed | 5% |
| 10. Kids hair brushed and styled neatly | 3% |
| 11. Never forget PE kit | 3% |
| 12. Brush teeth | 2% |
| 13. Chat about what happened at school | 2% |
| 14. Not be late for school | 2% |
| 15. Shoes are polished and not covered in mud | 2% |
Addressing the challenge of establishing sustainable family habits, Jo Travers, from the London Nutritionist, said:
“As parents, we go into every September with the best of intentions, but setting the bar too high is a fast track to burnout. Expecting a total family overhaul overnight is a recipe for failure, which is why so many routines collapse before the month is even out. It’s about micro-habits rather than perfection. Small, simple wins, like swapping in a higher-protein cow’s milk at breakfast to keep kids fuelled, build long-term success far better than trying to turn your morning routine into a military operation.”
With 64% of parents agreeing that consistency is vital, and 22% identifying simple dietary swaps as an effective starting point, experts suggest that minor adjustments offer the clearest path to lasting change this school year.