Ohhhhhh school mornings are crazy. You've got to get them up, dressed, fed and out the door all before you've likely had your first cup of coffee. And, if that isn't enough, you also need to remember their backpack, snack, school project and your car keys. Are we missing anything? Shoes?
To help you navigate the tough mornings ahead and streamline your process, check out our biggest tips below:
Get Started the Night Before
This is crucial. If you want a smoother morning, you need to get started the night before. This may mean laying out outfits, or making breakfast and snacks ahead of time. You’ll thank yourself in the morning!
Skip the Snooze
Did you know, more than half of all Americans hit the snooze button? And some of us (ahem), hit it more than once. This means we spend at least 3.5 months of our lives hitting the snooze button. Can you imagine how much time you would save, or gain back, if you just got up when the alarm went off? By skipping the snooze button, this allows you to do some things for yourself in the morning. Make that cup of coffee, scan the headlines or catch up on social media from the night before. This time is for you, as a parent, to ease yourself into the day and mentally prepare for the day ahead.
Incentive Getting Ready Early
Getting to school on time is your problem — not theirs. To make mornings easier, consider offering a reward for your child to finish getting ready early! Rewards could be playing a quick game together, TV/Internet time, snack, etc.
Make it Routine
Consider using a chart to visualize for your children what the morning routine should look like:
- Getting up
- Brushing teeth
- Combing hair
- Getting dressed
- Eating breakfast
- Packing backpack
- Getting out the door
Your chart could be pictures, graphics — whatever resonates with your child and keeps them engaged and out the door.
Get Organized
It’s all about making life easier on yourself. This may mean you have designated areas in your house for shoes, crayons, backpacks, etc., so you’re not running around looking for things before you need to leave in the morning. This includes asking your child to double check they have everything they need for the day! This will not only save you time running back and forth from home or work to school, but also give you peace of mind.
Are we missing anything? Do you have any great tips to share? Let us know in the comments below the success you’ve had or time-savings tips you’ve created!
