Q Can gadgets help get my kids ready for school?

ABecca Cadd y replies: Calm the circus before it even begins with smart lamps, which mimic sunrise and wake your family up in a way that’s much more pleasant than an alarm. The Lumie Bodyclock Active 250 Wake- Up Light (£99.95, lumie.com) is great for soothing sunrises and sound effects. Or try the affordable Lunsy Wake Up Light (£12, amazon.co.uk) for your kid’s room.

Voice-activated tech is a godsend for busy parents because you can use it even when your hands are full. Get an Amazon Echo (£74.99, amazon.co.uk) or a tiny Echo Dot (£39.99, amazon.co.uk) for your kids. Alexa can then become an AI nanny in the morning and wake your kids, keep them occupied with trivia or games or help them with homework facts while you’re getting yourself sorted.

If you want more control over when your kids are using tech versus when they should be getting ready instead, try Circle Home (£99, meetcircle.com). It smartly manages connected devices, empowering you to limit the kids’ screen time, set schedules and monitor internet usage.

Once the kids are at school and you’re on your way to work, give yourself all- day peace of mind with an indoor security camera, like the Logi Circle 2 (from £169.99, logitech.com), which looks good and is super responsive. For added security, try the Hive Smart Window and Door Sensors (£ 23.20, hivehome.co.uk) so nothing will be left open without you knowing.