How to Develop a Morning Routine for Teens

With school, homework, extracurricular activities, socializing, chores and part-time jobs, teens lives are full and busy. So it's an opportune time to help them organize their time. A chaotic morning can create a domino effect that puts one stumbling block after another in a teen's path for the rest of his day. Teaching your teen to get his morning off to an organized start helps ease him into his hectic day.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Alarm clock

Instructions

    • 1

      Start your routine the night before. The Mayo Clinic notes that changes in a teen's circadian rhythm makes his body ready to fall asleep later than it did when he was younger, but he still needs at least nine hours sleep each night. Distractions like electronics, the phone and postponing homework until late at night can further interfere with his ability to fall asleep. A nighttime routine that gives your teen time to finish his responsibilities, wind down and go to sleep will pave the way for a better morning routine.

    • 2

      Discuss with your teen the things he has to do in the morning, including what time he needs to leave the house. Help him make a list of required activities, like dressing and grooming, and discuss how long he thinks he realistically needs for each activity.

    • 3

      Plan time for breakfast. According to Kidshealth.org, teens who eat breakfast tend to have more energy, make better grades, concentrate better in school and are more likely to maintain a healthy weight.

    • 4

      Schedule responsibilities ahead of leisure activities. It's fine to give him leisure time in the morning, but letting him watch television or go on the computer first can result in procrastination and time crunches. He should be dressed, groomed, fed, packed and ready to go before leisure activities.

    • 5

      Set an alarm to go off at the same time each day. What time you set it for depends on how much time he thinks he needs to get ready and what time he needs to leave the house. He should be given ample time to accomplish what he needs to do in the morning with a little room to spare, but don't let him wake up much earlier than necessary.

    • 6

      Change the alarm setting or tweak the schedule if necessary. It may take your teen a few weeks to get used to the morning routine; a few adjustments may help it run more smoothly.

    • 7

      Go about your own morning routine and let your teen be accountable for his own routine. Let him suffer the consequences if he slips up, like making him walk to school if he misses the bus rather than offering him a ride. You may be tempted to keep calling when he ignores the alarm or finish his chores when he's running late, but he won't learn to keep a routine if you relieve him of responsibilities.

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