Mornings can be a whirlwind of unexpected bumps from all manner of lost soccer cleats, misplaced raincoats and forgotten homework. Make it easier with a few do-ahead ideas.
Families are on the cusp of another school year, and there is no better time to begin anew with ideas to keep your morning running smoothly from the get-go. Take a look at some of these suggestions and maybe even tape this list to your fridge so you can involve your kids in the process. Make it a game and put stickers on each suggestion when you use it!
PLACE TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE IN A CUTE BOWL BESIDE THE SINK
Brushing teeth in the morning is a must after breakfast. Make sure kids remember by making sure the tools are right in front of them. Even try getting little toothpaste tubes and different toothbrushes for mornings and put the evening toothbrushes in the cabinet. Have your children decide where they want the bowl. In the sink? On the shelf above the sink? In the drawer with their hairbrush? Young children will develop the habit that will last through childhood and beyond.
SELECT CLOTHING FOR THE NEXT DAY AND LAY ITEMS OUT
Before bedtime each day, spend time choosing the shorts they like, the shirts they want to wear, the socks and tennis shoes. Lay items out in cubbies marked with a giant sticker or spinning light. Little ones can be picky! And you certainly don’t want your little kindergartner to go to school wearing red with purple. Having it all laid out and ready for kids to grab and put on in the morning is a dream.
OBSERVE STRICTER BEDTIMES
This sounds like common sense, but those bedtimes need to apply to you too, Mom and Dad. When your kiddos finish taking baths, brushing teeth, reading and snuggling, you should consider getting ready for bed, too. If you make a goal to be consistent with all of the house bedtime rules, mornings will be easier. This allows you to wake up earlier, have that cup of coffee and possibly throw a load of laundry in before the rest of the house wakes up.
PREP BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
On this note, there are varied options. If you feel particularly energetic, you can make Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes. On other mornings, instant oatmeal or a bowl of cereal will work. Don’t stress yourself. Cut up fruit the night before and put it in the fridge. If you are gluten free, make muffins over the weekend to warm a bit as the kids pack their backpacks. As for lunches, prepare those together the evening before for a sweet, shared habit. Fill those Tupperware containers with the sandwiches they like, their favorite fruits and the snacks for football or soccer practice after school. And remember to put a note in! My children loved my writing on the napkin: You are amazing! You are smart! I love you!
CREATE CHECKLISTS
Whether you put this checklist on your phone, your laptop or on the mirror in their bathroom, this will help:
- Brush your teeth.
- Wash your face.
- Do your hair.
- Get dressed in the clothes we laid out last night.
- Eat breakfast. (Consider placing another list in the kitchen to detail menu options.)
- Get your school supplies ready to go.
- Pack the lunch we made together in your backpack.
- Put on your shoes.
DESIGNATE A BACKPACK STATION
Even if you don’t have a mudroom, you can create a spot. In your kitchen, put hooks beside the door you go out when you take your kids to the bus stop or the garage. We used to clear out the backpacks the night before, find homework that needed to be done, papers that needed to be signed, and lay them on the floor! Then, add their mats to sleep on, their notebooks, their lunch the next morning. Or consider loading the car the night before! If you have space, hang the backpacks on hooks within reach of kids’ hands.
EMPTY THE DISHWASHER THE NIGHT BEFORE
It’s much easier to clean up breakfast dishes when the dishwasher is ready and waiting. The last thing anyone wants to do is come home to smelly scrambled egg plates in the sink. Run it right after dinner and empty it right after the kids go to bed. Sounds simple but it’s a nice little perk for you.
HAVE SOME MOMMY TIME
When possible, try to make a few minutes for yourself in the morning. Read a chapter of your book. Return some emails. There is a saying that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Remember to fill your cup. Truly, your kids will take their cue from your mood. If you’re happy and cheerful, they’ll follow suit.
CHECK THE WEATHER THE NIGHT BEFORE
If a cold front is sweeping in, get jackets out. If heat is building, dress your children appropriately. This is all a team effort, too. Have your kids look at the weather app with you and see for themselves what is going to happen. It gets them involved, and then they can talk about it with their friends.
Remember, have fun. Children love games, and setting a timer can add some excitement to their morning. When they are particularly tired or out of sorts, give them awards to sweeten the efforts of efficiency.
An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.
Sources: RookieMoms.com, ModernParentsMessyKids.com