Sometimes mornings can just seem so difficult, and especially for parents and working parents as there is usually more to do in a short space of time. With people being tired in the morning it is when you are going to meet the most resistance from people and obviously before bed so it can make it just that much more difficult to get things done, the children can drag their feet and just not respond in an efficient way and just drag out the whole process. Whether your kids are just returning back to school, starting school for the first time or you are part way through the school year there are always going to be times where it almost feels impossible to get them ready and out of the house for school.
If you are struggling to get some sort of routine in place for your kids and they are just doggin there heels in when it comes to getting ready for school then these tips should be able to help you understand what changes and things you can implement to help get your kids up, ready and out of the house with less stress.
Give Yourself Enough Time
Giving yourself time in the morning is really important because if you can do everything stress free and without having to hurry then it will bring down the overall stress levels for everyone. It really starts the night before so make sure everyone gets to bed at the right time so they can get up at the correct time the next day so you can avoid rushing around by adding only 15 or 20 more minutes to your usual scheduled time. If you manage to get everyone ready early then make sure to spend some time with them so they do not think it is for nothing, maybe read a book or play a game this makes sure they want to get up early again.
Try to Get Tasks Completed Before Bed
To make sure the morning is stress free or at least a bit less stressful try to do tasks before going to bed so you are not rushing to do them in the morning. For example you can prepare the lunches and put them in the fridge overnight ready for the next day, and you can prepare some breakfast for the next day to speed things up too. If people need to shower or have a bath try and do it the night before instead of doing it in the morning, and deal with any lunch money, permission slips and checking of homework in the evening so you do not need to worry about it the next day. Also if you need to brush your daughters hair then it may be better to try do it the night before or get up early to do so as if it is tangled it can be a bad experience, you can find lots on how to painlessly detangle hair online which can help to make it a better experience all round after bath time.
Offer Encouragement
If you have little ones that like to dawdle and waste time then you may want to offer some sort of incentive or encouragement to get them moving a bit quicker. If for example they are brushing their teeth or getting changed and you need to be downstairs preparing something then try and have them do it downstairs with you so you can supervise and make sure they don’t get distracted and keep doing what they need to and do it properly. If they do it well and everything goes smoothly then give them some kind of reward for this so that they are motivated and encouraged to be done on time again each day.
Mind Your Expectations
It can be easy to forget that some kids struggle to do things on their own so make sure you do not have them trying to do anything they cannot do. Some children can change themselves and brush their own teeth whereas some cannot so you need to allow for this when planning out your time. You also need to make sure they are comfortable with what you are asking them to do. They may not be able to do it the first time but they may get the hang of it with some help.
Have Family Meetings
Openly discussing things as a family is a great way to come up with a structure you are all happy with and can adhere to for your mornings. What you may not realise is the children may not be able to do things quickly or cannot do things themselves and this gives them a chance to voice that. They may not be being slow on purpose even if it comes across that way so having an opportunity for everyone to come up with ideas and voice problems they may be having is a great way to deal with things. Family meetings can cover a variety of things also they do not just have to be about one thing so it is a good way to get things off your chest and come up with solutions so that everyone is happy.
Set the kids up with Their Own Alarms
Some children see having an alarm clock as a cool grown up thing so try and lean into that by taking them out to choose their own alarm clock. What you can then do is use it as an incentive as they will want to feel grown up and keep it, so if they do not use it properly or get up when it goes off threaten to take it away and this should make sure they use it and if they do not then take it away, if they then get up properly the next day give it to them.
Create a Chore Chart
Charts are great for getting kids to do things like chores and getting ready, by introducing a chart you can get them to tick off what they do throughout the week then if they are doing it day in day out for the whole week they get a treat at the end of the week. By doing this you are giving them some independence as you do not have to keep nagging as it is down to them to sort it out and tick it off themselves. This will keep them motivated and make sure that they keep up with the morning routine and what they need to be doing.
Designate an Area for School
So many times kids will forget things for school or misplace something after school and you have to tear around looking for it. Well to counteract this time wasting, designate an area where they put their school things or if they forget collect them up the night before and put them there. This will stop the time wasting of having to find everything in the morning and make sure they do not forget anything they may need. Make sure it is an area big enough for backpacks, shoes, jackets, books, etc. as this space will need anything school related in it.
If you are sick of the mornings always being a slog and always being a rush and you want to make a change to that but do not know how then hopefully, these tips will be able to make your mornings that much easier and a little less hectic.
Let’s make it a great school year!
Cheers!
Candy
