A Really Good Morning: Getting Back into Your A.M. Routine
Jarring alarms, haphazard lunch packing and a frenzied dash to school with you in the center of the chaos, shouting out reminders to brush teeth, eat breakfast, find the homework. Does this sound like your morning? Now that winter break is about to end, it’s time to get your family back into the swing of the morning routine — and time to make your role less like a drill sergeant and more like a contented observer.
Tips for a calmer and more organized morning routine
Setting the tone for a successful day starts with the morning routine. The calmer and more organized it can be, the better the chance the rest of the day will flow smoothly. So, how can you inspire your family to synchronize into a well-oiled brushing, dressing, breakfasting machine?
You can get a jump on the morning by doing as many things as you can the night before: pack lunches, help them lay out clothes and organize the backpack. But after that, take a backseat to your new best friend: The Morning List.
- Create a checklist with your child of everything that needs to happen on a typical school morning — such as showering, getting dressed, putting dirty clothes in the hamper, eating breakfast, clearing their dishes — you get the picture. Be very specific, because this list will replace you as a reminder. If your child is a pre-reader, keep words simple and use pictures, if necessary. For example, instead of writing "brush teeth," just draw a toothbrush or find some fun clip art.
- Post the morning list on the refrigerator or in another visible location. Keep stickers or a pen nearby for your kids to tick off the tasks they have completed.
- Pour yourself a cup of coffee, and remember to keep the mood cheerful and positive.
- As the morning goes on, remind them to check their list, but don't remind them of their specific tasks. Remember that children in kindergarten and early grades will need more support and prompting than older kids.
- Give them an incentive to succeed. Praise is great. At first, you may want to give your kids extra incentives. For example, if they get everything done on their list on time every day for a week, they can buy a new movie or video game or invite a friend for a sleepover.
- Give them a consequence if they don't get ready in time. For instance, if your kids don't get their morning responsibilities done in time, there will be no television that day, or a loss of their handheld electronics privileges. You know your children, and you know what they hold most dear. If they don't get ready in time to make the bus and you have to drive them, get creative and have them pay a taxi fee, or ask them to do one extra chore after school.
Reviewed by: Patrick S. Pasquariello Jr., MD
Date: January 2012
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