How to Get Three Kids Ready for School in the Morning

If school mornings are currently an overwhelming ordeal, filled with shouting, frantic breakfast-guzzling, nagging, unorganized backpack-packing and temper tantrums -- all for the kids to end up at the school frazzled, and just in time for a late slip again -- it̵7;s time for a few organizational changes to make mornings run smoother. With a little bit of planning and forethought, mornings at home can be calm and structured, making an ideal relaxed environment for your kids to start their day.

Things You'll Need

  • Hanging clothing shelf

Instructions

    • 1

      Make a list of everything that needs to be ready for a school morning and do it the night before. Make lunches and store them in the kids̵7; lunch bags in the fridge. Review each child̵7;s homework and have them pack their backpacks with everything other than their lunches. Help your children pick out their clothing for the next day before they go to bed. Alternatively, install a hanging clothing shelf in each closet that has one cubby hole or slot for every day of the week and help the kids pick out their entire week̵7;s clothing on Sunday evening.

    • 2

      Determine breakfast in the evening, too. This way, you can predict precisely how long it will take to make and consume so you can get the stove burners on -- or the cereal poured -- at an appropriate time.

    • 3

      Stagger the times at which you get your kids out of bed. If one of the kids needs to wander around like a zombie for a half hour before getting ready for school and another requires 45 minutes to blow dry and style her hair, get the kids up at different times according to their needs. This way, the kids who need extra time can get moving early, while your quick-moving child won̵7;t fall asleep from boredom before it̵7;s time to leave.

    • 4

      Skip unnecessary tasks. If you're late for the bell every day because you don't want to leave the house without getting the dishwasher on, postpone the dishes until you get back. Have the kids stick to the basics, too. Have them make their beds, keep up with personal hygiene and then leave the rest of the bedroom clutter until they get home.

    • 5

      Encourage your children to be responsible for themselves as much as they are developmentally capable. Set an alarm in each bedroom. Your 8-year-old might need you to prepare the eggs and toast, but he can then assume responsibility for putting away his dishes, and getting himself dressed and ready for school, which frees up the time you̵7;ll need to help a younger child with basic tasks.

    • 6

      Write out the routine. Put everything on paper so you can follow it through like clockwork. Make a copy for each of your children or hang a central copy on the fridge so everyone knows what to expect when their alarm goes off in the morning.

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