Morning Routine Tips from Local Moms: How to Get Kids Up and Out the Door with Less Stress
We all know the struggle of getting kids up and out the door in the morning. Whether it's a challenge to wake them up, get them dressed, or just motivate them to start their day, mornings can sometimes feel like a race against the clock. To help make mornings a little easier, we reached out to the wonderful moms in the Moms of Hendersonville Facebook group for their best tips. Here are some tried-and-true strategies shared by local moms!
1. Use a Visual Chart for Morning Tasks
Kirsten J. shared a great tip about using a visual chart to mark off morning tasks. “I got a chart off Amazon with several options,” she says. “This way, my daughter feels more responsible for herself instead of us repeating ourselves constantly. I rarely have to prompt her with ‘okay, let’s start marking off our morning tasks.’ She feels very accomplished when she marks off each task. It has helped us avoid the back-and-forth arguments, especially when she’s tired of hearing the same thing over and over.” Visual charts can give kids a sense of ownership in their routine and a boost of confidence as they complete their tasks.
2. Pick Out Clothes the Night Before
Jessica J. suggests having kids pick out their clothes the night before. “That usually helps us,” she says. “If you have the option, do a picture chart of things she has to do so she can see her getting ready routine. It’s like a game they can almost play in the morning. You can even make it where she puts away the cards after she completes a task.”
3. Stick to a Consistent Routine
Felisha M. shares, “My advice and it has helped all year long is keeping the same exact routine. Sometimes, of course, it changes up a little bit, but I wake them up and give them about 15-20 minutes to ‘wake up.’ While they’re doing that, I make their lunches. My 9-year-old gets herself dressed, then I get my 5-year-old dressed. I do both of their hair right away after they’re dressed. Then it’s brush teeth and out the door. Try to keep the same exact routine and it will make the morning run smoother. If I don’t feel rushed, my girls don’t feel rushed, and this helps with the attitudes of all of us!”
4. Prep Everything the Night Before
Carli S. emphasizes the importance of prepping the night before. “I make my son do everything the night beforehand—pick out clothes, pack his bag, and choose breakfast,” she says. “I usually wake him up an hour before we leave so he can watch TV and perk up a little. If he’s not difficult through the week, we go to the donut shop on Fridays. I also try to pep talk him and think of something he wants to do after school so he has something to look forward to. It could be anything from gaming for a little while, playing outside, or helping me cook. Just something to look forward to.”
5. Incentivize with Tablet Time
Mandy R. has a clever incentive system. “My boys know that they can do whatever they want as long as they are completely ready to walk out the door,” she says. “They rush to get ready and eat breakfast just to have some tablet time before we leave. We also have bins labeled for each day that have their outfits in it, so they can get themselves dressed.”
In Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to making mornings easier, but these tips from local moms show that with a little creativity and preparation, mornings don’t have to be as stressful. Whether it’s creating a visual chart, offering choices, or simply setting a fun tone with music, there are plenty of ways to help kids get up and get out the door with less hassle. Hopefully, these ideas will make your mornings a little smoother and more enjoyable!
