How to Establish a Child's Morning Routine

In many homes with children, "Rise and shine, honey!" doesn't always result in kids actually rising or shining. If you're a creative parent and you'd like to change this, develop a structured, easy-to-follow and fun morning routine with your child's help. An established morning routine that is sure to be effective in the long run is one that is tailored to the specific needs of the whole family, the features of the home and the personalities of the children.

Things You'll Need

  • A whiteboard or poster board
  • Markers
  • Colorful stickers

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the right wake-up time for each member of your family. Consider the number of bathrooms in the house and the morning tasks you perform each day. Also, keep in mind departure times for work and school, giving an extra cushion of at least 15 minutes to avoid stress.

    • 2

      Create a morning routine chart or checklist with your child's help. For engagement, include pictures to go with each task, such as a picture of a yellow toothbrush for brushing teeth. You may want to laminate the list or create it with colored permanent markers on a whiteboard to allow you to check off steps each morning with a dry-erase marker.

    • 3

      Use a gentle wake-up method each morning. Allow your child to pick out a personalized alarm clock at a local store. Alternatively, play a relaxing Disney song from "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King" or another heartwarming, animated movie to allow for a pleasant, cheerful wake-up.

    • 4

      Guide your child to check off the list as she goes. Don't forget to praise your child as she accomplishes each step and offer reminders or encouragement as needed.

    • 5

      Praise, reward and repeat. You might implement a weekly intangible incentive for following the morning routine in a joyful manner all week. For example, maybe the family can enjoy a movie night with popcorn and ice cream or build a fort fortified with pillows and blankets in the living room on Saturday evening.

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