Mornings can be rough for everyone – especially with young children who don’t want to get ready for the day. Creating a routine that works for both children and parents can seem impossible, but here are some tips that will hopefully make the task less daunting.
1. Prepare the night before
A successful morning routine starts the night before. Having your child’s outfit picked out for the next day, backpack packed and ready to go, and having breakfast decided on in advance will save time and energy in the morning. Additionally, ensuring your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour helps prevent morning fussiness.
2. Ask for your child’s input
While crafting a successful morning routine, it’s important to discuss details with your child. By keeping them in the loop on what they need to accomplish each morning, getting their opinion on what to wear the next day, and what to eat for breakfast (within reason), they’re more likely to follow the routine without resistance.
3. Make a checklist
For visual learners and to-do list makers like myself, making a checklist for what needs to get done in the morning is a great way to make sure you don’t miss anything. Making sure teeth and hair are brushed, clothes are changed, backpack is properly packed, breakfast has been eaten, and any other morning obligations unique to your household can all be crossed off on one list to stay organized.
4. Foster a positive environment
To make mornings feel like less of a chore, implementing fun into the routine can make a world of difference. This can look like playing upbeat music while getting ready, watching a cartoon while eating breakfast, waking up with some storytime, and many other methods. Whatever works for you and your child to include some morning leisure and positivity while still accomplishing what needs to get done.
5. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need
Allowing extra time in the morning will be beneficial on those days where your child may need a little push to get ready for the day. Rushing in the morning will likely cause stress and increase the chances of missing something, so it’s best to give yourself some wiggle room.
Hopefully, these pointers will lead to smoother sailing morning routines with your child/children. While consistency is key to maintaining the flow, adjusting routines as needed is inevitable as children develop. There’s no cookie-cutter routine that will work for everyone, so it’s important to give yourself grace and experiment until you find what works.
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