How to Organize a Morning Routine With Children

Practice a balance of dealing with present issues while anticipating things that need to happen in the future. For example, while you clean up dinner, get things ready for your kid̵7;s school lunch for the next day. Get your children involved, too. Have them pack up their backpacks when their homework is done, so everything is ready to go in the morning.

Make a checklist of things your kids need before going to school, such as clean clothes, homework, backpacks and books. Each night before going to bed, make sure these items are laid out and ready to go. Set out a couple outfit options so your children have the autonomy and opportunity to choose their own clothes.

Place a clock radio or alarm clock that will play your child̵7;s favorite tune or style of music in his room. While a buzzer can be too startling for many children, an appealing song or chime gives your child an opportunity to make choices and reinforces your child̵7;s feelings of responsibility to get himself up with the morning. For pre-teens or older children, encourage them to use a phone, watch or other electronic device, but make sure they put the device away from their beds so they must get up to turn off the alarm.

Wake up a half hour before everyone else must get up, and make this practice a part of your morning routine. Take this time to get a cup of coffee or meditate before the rest of the house is up. Your kids will thrive better in the morning if you are not stressed or tired.

Put a calendar on the refrigerator or other prominent area in your home. Make it a routine to look at the calendar with your children every day. If your daughter has ballet class the next day, she can get her outfit ready or packed so there aren̵7;t any surprises in the morning when the ballet costume needs to be washed or your daughter can't find her favorite scrunchie.

Make a checklist of things your kids need to do before heading out the door but that can̵7;t be accomplished the night before, such as brushing teeth and eating breakfast. Put this checklist on the refrigerator or other area your child will see it. The visual cue helps your child remember what to do and prevents you from needing to nag.

Keep breakfast simple, such as cereal and milk or yogurt. If your child loves French toast or pancakes, make those breakfast foods a special weekend treat or freeze leftovers and heat them up on weekdays.

Create a list of things that tend to go wrong in your morning routine, especially if you have been diligent about planning ahead. You might find that some of the same events keep happening. For example, if your toddler won̵7;t leave for daycare without his favorite stuffed bear, assign a space for it and make sure the bear is in his place the night before so you can grab it and go on your way out.