How to Survive (and Maybe Even Master) the Madness of Kids’ Activities

Let’s be real—once your kid starts doing extracurricular activities, your life basically turns into a full-time chauffeur gig (minus the paycheck and with a lot more snack requests). If you’re a fellow mom trying to juggle multiple activities while holding on to your last thread of sanity, I see you.

My daughter is in grade 4, and our afternoons look something like this: piano, gymnastics, ballet, and swimming. It’s a beautiful kind of chaos—one that keeps her mind busy, challenges her, and helps burn off that endless energy (seriously, where does it all come from?!). But keeping everything organized so we’re not constantly running late, forgetting water bottles, or realizing I have no idea where I’m supposed to be at 4:30 PM? That takes strategy.

So, here are some survival tips from one busy mom to another:

1️⃣ Get a Calendar… and Actually Use It

I don’t care if it’s a fancy planner, a whiteboard, or a good old-fashioned sticky note system—WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. Color-coding is optional, but highly recommended if you enjoy feeling like you’ve got your life together.

Bonus tip: Set phone alarms for pick-ups and drop-offs. Because trust me, “I thought it was next Tuesday” is not something you want to say when your kid is standing outside ballet class, waiting.

2️⃣ Master the Art of the Car Snack

When your child is bouncing between activities, there’s no time for a sit-down meal. That’s where the car snack stash comes in. I keep a variety of options on hand:

✅ Granola bars (minimal crumbs, maximum energy)

✅ Cheese sticks (because, protein!)

✅ The occasional drive-thru treat (because I’m human)

At this point, my backseat is basically a mobile pantry, and I’m not even sorry about it.

3️⃣ Embrace the ‘Activity Bag’ System

There’s nothing worse than getting to swimming only to realize the swimsuit is… still at home.

🏊 Swimming bag: Swimsuit, towel, goggles.

🎹 Piano bag: Music books, notebook, pencil.

🩰 Ballet bag: Leotard, shoes, hair ties.

🏅 Gymnastics bag: Leotard, water bottle, extra patience for waiting-room small talk.

Each activity has its own dedicated bag that stays packed and ready to go. No more last-minute scavenger hunts!

4️⃣ Use the ‘Kill Time Productively’ Hack

If you’re spending half your life waiting at practices, use that time wisely!

Some ideas:

📖 Read a book (or at least pretend to while scrolling your phone)

📝 Catch up on emails or meal planning

☕ Sneak in a solo coffee break—because self-care matters!

🚶 Take a short walk (because let’s be honest, when else do we have time for exercise?)

5️⃣ Carpool Like Your Sanity Depends on It (Because It Does)

Find another mom whose kid is in the same activities and carpool like a boss. Seriously, trading off drop-offs and pick-ups is a game-changer and will give you back a little bit of precious time.

6️⃣ Know When to Say ‘No’ (Or ‘Not This Season’)

It’s easy to get caught up in signing your kid up for everything—but just because they show interest in an activity doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your entire schedule for it. Every few months, I check in with my daughter:

🗣️ “Are you still enjoying all these activities?”

😅 “Do you feel overwhelmed?”

⏳ “Would you rather drop something for a little extra chill time?”

Sometimes the answer is “I love it all!” (great!) and sometimes it’s “Can I take a break from one?” (also great!). Balance is key.

7️⃣ Remind Yourself Why You’re Doing This

Yes, the schedule is chaotic. Yes, you will forget things. Yes, you will occasionally question why you’re spending your evenings driving in circles. But watching your child thrive, learn, and grow in confidence makes it all worth it.

At the end of the day, these activities challenge them, build resilience, and give them an outlet for their energy. And hey, if it means they go to bed just a little earlier because they’re actually tired? That’s a win in my book.

Moms, What’s Your Secret to Managing the Madness?

Do you have a game-changing hack for keeping kids’ activities under control? A funny scheduling disaster story? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear! 👇

-Fabi