Wake Up Early
On the first days back to school, start your morning 15 to 20 minutes earlier than you think you need to. As the school year goes on, you may be able to adjust your wake-up times. But having a little extra time is a great cushion for those unexpected hiccups everyone experiences. Some parents find that it’s helpful for them to get up earlier than their kids, especially if they are trying to get out the door to work. Figure out how much interruption-free time you need before your kids get up. For instance, do you need your morning coffee before you see their bright, cheery faces? Of course, other parents can roll out of bed, wake their kids, and get started on the day together. Regardless of what works for your family, a few extra minutes in the morning as you adjust to the beginning of the school year can be a real lifesaver. Wake-up time is directly related to bedtime, especially with younger kids. You may want to start the school year with an early bedtime and adjust later if it seems warranted.
Get It Done the Night Before
For a smooth school morning, it helps to plan ahead. Encourage your kids to do what they can the night before. Before bed, make sure lunches are packed, clothes are laid out, breakfast is planned, devices are charging, and homework and other necessities are packed for school. Some families find that taking showers and baths in the evenings are helpful, especially if your kids still need help with these. If this is the case for your family, consider making these things part of the kids’ bedtime routine. Depending on your child’s age, they may be able to do many of these tasks on their own, with supervision from you. Encouraging kids to prepare for the next day teaches important life skills like independence and time management. So don’t shy away from assigning your kids some of this work. Many families find it useful to have a designated space in their home where they keep everything that is needed for the next day: backpacks, chargers, electronics, keys, shoes, water bottles, and any other necessities. Doing so saves them from running around the house the next morning looking for what they need.
Learn to Delegate
When kids are little, parents often do most everything for them, and sometimes they just stay in that habit even as they get older. A new school year is an ideal time to take a look at your child’s skills and add new jobs to their morning routine. If you want your kids to take care of a chore that you’ve previously done for them, like feeding the dog, making their own lunch, or getting dressed, spend time teaching these skills when you’re not rushed. Don’t try to squeeze lessons into an already busy school morning.
Don’t Sweat Breakfast
While it’s true that breakfast is important—some even argue that it’s the most important meal of the day—it doesn’t have to create extra pressure for you or your kids. Plan some easy breakfast meals that you can have on hand for your family. Aside from cereal and milk, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, whole-grain bread or waffles, and smoothies make great breakfast options and are easy to grab in a rush. You even can make use of the breakfast offered by your child’s school or daycare, if this option is offered. The key is that you aren’t allowing breakfast to throw a wrench into getting the day started. Another way to solve breakfast issues is to ask your kids what they want for breakfast the night before. Some kids can’t plan that far in advance, but just starting them thinking can be helpful. Kids will respond much better if they know the night before that you’re out of their favorite cereal, rather than when they are still foggy from sleep.
Have a Checklist
Trying to remember everything that needs to be done can be a challenge, especially at the beginning of the school year. Some families find it useful to develop a checklist for their morning routine. You might include items such as:
Brush hair and teethWash faceGet dressedEat breakfastPut on shoesGrab lunch and devicesDouble-check backpackUse the bathroomTurn off the lights
Even after kids get used to all the elements of the morning routine, you may need to double-check to be sure all the items have been completed. Some kids like to skip steps, like brushing their teeth.
Give Kids an Incentive
Sometimes kids need a little more motivation to get through their morning routines, especially if they don’t like school, are grumpy in the mornings, or are simply slow movers. To keep your mornings from becoming a battle, consider developing some incentives for your kids to get ready on time. For instance, some kids will be sure they accomplish all their tasks if they know they are going to be allowed to play a game, read a book, or watch television before school. If you plan to motivate your kids with these types of rewards, make sure you build in a little extra time so they can enjoy them.
A Word From Verywell
You may need to tinker with your morning routine until it works for everyone involved. Be creative in your solutions and do what works best for your family. There are no right and wrong answers when it comes to establishing your family’s morning routine. With a little time and creativity, you will soon have a morning routine that works for the entire family.
