No matter how old your kids are, getting out the door for school in the morning can be a real hassle. Between making lunches, planning after-school activities, and trying to make sure everyone eats a hearty breakfast, you may find your school routine just doesn’t cut it.
Many parents find themselves overwhelmed in the mornings. Fortunately, there are small changes you can make to your school routine so that things run more smoothly.
The key is whatever routine you choose, you should establish it early on. By the time your kids reach kindergarten, they should already have habits established to help them get out the door in the morning.
But as your child grows their needs in the morning will change and you may find that what you were doing before won’t work anymore.
Keep reading for tips on the changes you need to make.
Get Emotions Under Control
Before your child can focus on getting ready for school physically, they have to be committed to it emotionally. Many parents think their children are trying to annoy them by dragging their feet in the morning, but there may be more going on.
If your child is struggling in the morning then this may be an indicator that something is wrong at school. You should ask your child’s teacher how their behavior has been once they have gotten to the classroom to get a better idea of the situation.
Start Your School Routine With Enough Sleep
Before you consider changing anything in your school routine, you should look at how much sleep your kids are getting. The importance of sleep can never be overstated.
Kids need different amounts of sleep depending on their age, so you should determine an appropriate bedtime for them. A good way to do this is by using a chart.
Start Your School Routine the Night Before
Now that you have ensured your kids are getting enough sleep, you can move on to the next step. You need to reduce the number of responsibilities that everyone has in the morning.
One way to do this is by preparing breakfast the night before. If the food is ready then your kids can eat whenever they are ready to and they won’t have to wait for you.
Beyond making breakfast in advance, packing lunches the night before is a great idea. If you want to keep things interesting, try making your kids a bento box. This is a trend that is catching on with lunchbox makers leading the way with their fun compartmentalized plastic options.
You can also save time during your school routine by laying out clothes for your kids the night before. Let your child take the time to pick out their clothes if they are old enough or keep a selection of appropriate outfits at their level so that they can throw something on quickly in the morning.
By involving your child in the decision-making process of choosing their clothing, you give them some control over their morning routine while making sure that you will be out the door in time.
The final thing you can do in advance creates a designated space for school essentials. You don’t want to be searching for backpacks, shoes, and lunch boxes every morning.
Designate a spot for all your child’s school items and you won’t have to worry about being late because you can’t find something. You can also assign a place for your keys and briefcase to help as well.
Rise Before the Rest
You should set your alarm for fifteen to thirty minutes before your kids wake up. This allows you to establish a true morning routine without having to worry about what the kids are doing. This way, you set the entire family up for a successful morning.
Ideally, by the time your kids way up you should be showered and dressed, ready to greet the day. Just like children, adults benefit from having a regular routine. By having a morning ritual you will feel ready to combat the day.
Chart a Path
A chart can be a helpful way to organize your school routine. If your kids are young and can’t read yet then you can use pictures on your chart.
Include things like:
- Brush Teeth
- Comb Hair
- Wash Face
- Get Dressed
- Eat Breakfast
- Put on Shoes
- Lunch
- After School Equipment
Once you have identified all the items that need to be part of your school routine, you should go over them with your kids. Talk your way through the morning to anticipate any glitches and order the steps in a way that works for your family.
You should try to get your child to take ownership of their tasks. Don’t just do everything for them.
In the short term, it may be quicker for you to put their pants on for them. But in the end, you will pay for this convenience with future power struggles and frustration down the road.
Try a When-Then School Routine
One good option for getting your kids through the morning is using a When-Then approach. This parenting technique pairs the less fun morning activities with the more desirable ones to keep your child motivated.
Simply choose one thing that your child actually likes to do in the morning and make it contingent on them completing less desirable tasks. Perhaps they can’t watch TV until they are fully dressed for school.
More Tips and Tricks
Getting your kids out the door in the morning can be a monumental task. Fortunately, with a little bit of parenting advice, this battle can be won.
By making sure your children are getting enough sleep, prepping as much as you can in advance, and getting yourself ready before your children get up, you can improve your school routine easily.
If you are trying to simplify your lifestyle then you should look no further for advice. Our articles can help you improve yourself and your lifestyle so read more today.