If mornings with kids feel like an Olympic event, you’re not alone. Between finding matching socks, pouring cereal, and convincing a toddler that pajamas are not proper daycare attire, weekday mornings can test even the most patient parents. The good news? With a little preparation (and maybe a lot of caffeine), mornings can run smoother. Here are some tried-and-true tips that many parents swear by.
Get Ready the Night Before. The less activities you leave for the morning, the better it will go. Pick out everyone’s clothes for the dy. Decide and have lunches ready to go. Have backpacks and other needed items in one central location packed and ready to go.
Routine Help Children and Save Adult’s Sanity. Most children function much better when they know what comes next. . . Keep it simple—wake up, get dressed, eat, brush teeth, grab bags—helps everyone stay on track. If your children enjoy checking things off a list, you can develop a checklist to help keep them on track. Print the list with large check boxes and place it into a plastic sheet protecter. Then use dry erase markers to check the boxes. Each evening the list can be easily wiped clean for the following morning.
Wake Up Before Your Children. Waking up even a few minutes before the kids can change your whole day. Whether you use it to sip coffee, scroll in peace, or just breathe, that little head start can make a huge difference in your day.
Keep Breakfast Simple If you or your children eat breakfast before leaving home for the day, keep it easy. Quick and nutritious options like toast, yogurt, or a banana can do the trick. Save the fancy pancakes for the weekend. Or, make extra pancakes and freeze them for use during the week.
Add Some Time to The Schedule, Just in Case. Plan to leave the house at 7:00 am if you actually need to leave at 7:10. Shoes and homework mysteriously disappear. Someone suddenly needs to tell you about dinosaurs, or needs to change into their “good” socks. Build in a few extra minutes so the unexpected doesn’t stress you out and make everyone late.
Stay Positive (Or at Least Pretend!). Mornings set the tone for the day for the entire family. Celebrate the little wins: “Wow, you got your shoes on really fast!” Encouragement keeps the mood lighter, and honestly, it helps you feel better too.
Remember: No parent’s mornings are perfect. The goal isn’t to have Instagram-worthy mornings—it’s just to get everyone out the door fed, dressed, and (mostly) happy. If you manage that, you’ve won the day already.