How do I make mornings run more smoothly trying to get two kids off to school. Ages 4 & 5. Please help!!
I get up before them to get ready for work and then I wake them up, one goes straight to the bathroom to brush teeth while the other one needs to eat right away and then they switch (they share a bathroom) they pick out clothes and (pack lunches if they’re doing cold lunch) the night before, I brush hair while they sit at the table and eat. I have 3 girls so we need good routine’s my oldest is 15 and leaves for school later than the other 2
Get stuff ready night before they can start to get dressed when waking up
Routine! This way the kids know what to expect every day and won’t be resistant. Do what you can the night before - pack lunches, bags, pick out outfits.
Backpacks, showers and clothes laid out the night before
My kids had to get up so early for school they took showers & dressed the night before so all they had to do was put shoes & outerwear on in the am. Sounds weird, but worked for us.
Checklists & routine for everyday stuff, sticky note signs & phone alarm/reminders for anything out of the ordinary. Packed lunches but always had Lunchables on hand for a quick grab in case things don’t go as planned.
Toasted plain frozen waffle or PopTarts on hand to take to the bus stop on mornings when breakfast doesn’t go as planned.
I mean come on lol … stay off ur phone and get it together
Best thing I’ve ever done is, everything the night before. Bare minimum that needs done in the am. Just dressed, breakfast and out the door.
Lunches and bags packed the night before
Water bottles filled
Clothes decided upon and set out
Breakfast pre-decided or set out
I keep all toiletries for each kid in their own basket, that way no one is looking around for a certain item.
Shoes set out next to the door
Sometimes my kid sleeps in the shorts he’s going to wear the next day I know people will disagree with that but it’s not the worst if you’re short on time and spoons in the morning.
Also. I wake up earlier and get myself together before I start poking at the kids to get up.
Prepare them as much as you can the night before.
Wake them up sooner than need be so they can wake up on their own time.
Shoes and socks for the next day. Next to their backpacks.
Reward if they get ready quickly (few minutes of TV)
If you’re struggling with clothes. Pick two options you okayed but show them both as if they made the decision of what to wear.
Give more info on what part of the mornings you’re struggling with!
We’ve found having everything ready to go helps so much.
We have a 5 bin storage hanger in her closet and every Sunday we fill it with everything she needs to that outfit so she can grab and go.
We also always pack lunches and check folders etc the night before and put everything by the door; that way we only have to grab lunch boxes and water bottles from the fridge.
A routine like this will help so much so the kiddos know what’s expected of them.
everything the night before, I have 6 kids 5 in school but I need to take my youngest with me as well. lunches, unless a hot lunch , water bottles filled, shoes out, outfits, showers. I kinda ask what they want the night before for breakfast as well I know what they like so I make sure I have an idea.
I’ve always gotten everything ready the night before. Clothes folded and ready by their sneakers, lunches and snacks made and packed, all papers signed put into backpacks, and backpacks left by the front door. Breakfast would usually be something easy and quick like oatmeal and raisins, or waffles and a yogurt. After breakfast wash up, brush teeth, get dressed, lunchbox in backpack and out the door. Our mornings have always been easy, always. Oh, also no TV or anything in the morning.
I lay out clothes, shoes, backpacks the night before. Also I make snacks and fill up water bottles the night before. I get up 30 min before mine so I can get hair stuff out & ready, lay out vitamins, fix breakfast, let the dog out, and get dressed before they get up. Also we do baths the night before so they can have on their clean underwear already. We have a pattern we follow in the am as well- get up, potty, get dressed, eat, pack snacks/water bottles in backpack, brush teeth, fix hair, take vitamins & meds, then out the door.
Make lunches the night before. Check the weather and set out clothes the night before. Have a simple checklist (use pictures if they don’t read).
Wake up
Get dressed
Eat breakfast
Wash face
Brush teeth
Put lunch in backpack
Shoes
Walk out the door at “x time”
Keep it simple.
My kids have a rule that there are no video games, TV, or tablet in the morning until everything is done. If there’s time left over to play, I’m very clear about timing and everything goes off at “x time” even if you’re ‘not done yet’ lol.
Clothes picked out and laid out the night before, breakfast done before waking them up, up beat music they like playing sort of loud, toothpaste already on the toothbrushes, cartoons while putting on shoes and doing hair.
I got 4 plus have to take my husband to work then myself. You gotta get on a schedule. I get up get all the stuff they need for that day ready, clothes, backpack and hubby lunch and snacks. Get all up and dressed hair done and all that. Take the kids to bus stop then hubby to work then i go to work. Getting a routine down helps us so much
Clothes laid out before bed, breakfast prepped and ready to grab and go, pack lunches the night before.
At that age, it’s hard but if you have everything ready to go, it’s much easier. Outfits laid out the night before. Lunches made the night before. Easy and quick breakfasts. We like yogurt with granola and fresh berries or smoothies. The routine went something like this
- 6:45 wake up and get dressed
- 7 am go eat breakfast
- 7:20 brush teeth , wash face comb hair
- 7:40 gather belongings…back pack, lunch, school work , shoes and sweater/ jacket
- 8 am leave the house