CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Between the back-to-school frenzy and mad holiday rush once nestled a fall lull for families. Day trips to pick apples were tradition. Evenings spent carving pumpkins a must. Piling up leaves to jump in could easily take a whole afternoon. Not anymore.
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"During the month of October I'm involved in school sport carpools, snack schedules and end of season parties, school clean up days, Halloween parties, choir and youth group events, neighborhood get-togethers, volunteer opportunities and multiple seasonal work events," says Heather Pahl, mom to two children in Holly Springs, NC. "October feels like the beginning of the holiday season."
Companies that cater to busy families are seeing the impact of these full calendars. SignUpGenius, which provides online sign ups to manage event planning, is one of them. "Every year since we started in 2008, more events have been organized on our site during the month of October than in any other month," says CEO Dan Rutledge. "In October 2013, we experienced an 84% increase in the number of activities planned from the previous October, and this year we've significantly surpassed that number again."
Several factors contribute to an overflowing October family calendar, but the most surprising culprit is the weather. No longer too hot to enjoy sporting events, nor too cold for fall festivals, it is an ideal month to plan outdoor events.
Of course, there is no shortage of indoor activities to claim the month's time either. Schools make the most of October to schedule parent teacher conferences, book fairs, and fundraisers. Nonprofits and churches coordinate service opportunities that won't conflict with holiday commitments.
And then there's Halloween. "I think Halloween is becoming the new American holiday," shares Jennifer Bond, mom to three. "It's not religious so it can be celebrated freely. At our elementary school up north, the kids practiced for a Halloween parade and dance number, and the whole school created special masks with themes like 'patriotic' or 'animals.'"
In an effort to manage their increasingly packed family schedules, busy moms and dads turn to time saving methods for their daily activities. Saving time on meal prep is one of the first places they start. Thanks to online meal planning sites like eMeals, where families can access two-week plans designed to be used at Costco, families no longer have to comb for recipes or shop multiple stores for economical ingredients.
Time saving technology sites are another go-to option for maxed out moms and dads. Sites like CoolMomTech and The Kim Komando Show help busy parents zero in on the best tech apps available to simplify family life. "Parents are challenged to find a way to 'do-it-all,' yet also have time to enjoy the activities in which their family are involved," says Rutledge. "Online tools help make planning portable and ease a considerable amount of stress."
Bath and Body Works has even picked up on the fall busyness trend by marketing a full line of aromatherapy stress relief products. The company offers 25 such options in their Fall 2014 products online.
With the fall becoming increasingly packed out for families, it is little wonder that retailers feel a need to begin the December holiday shopping season early. Most have already stocked their shelves with Christmas decorations. After so many fall events, could they be concerned that families will choose to sleep right through Christmas?
About SignUpGenius SignUpGenius simplifies the process of coordinating events and people by providing online sign ups for non-profits, schools, sports, churches, families, colleges, businesses, and organizations. By enabling 7 million unique visitors per month to sign up for tasks online, SignUpGenius has done away with the need for paper sign ups, "reply all" emails, and phone trees. Learn more at www.SignUpGenius.com.
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Contact SignUpGenius: Kate White, Email, 704-329-9530
SOURCE SignUpGenius
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