Back-To-School: 5 Tips for No-Stress Mornings

Back-To-School: 5 Tips for No-Stress Mornings

With the first day of school only a few weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about getting back into a morning routine.  You know…how you get your family out of the house on time, happy and prepared to face the day?!? ?  If your family is anything like ours, this is not an easy task, especially those first few days back.  Here are five tips on how to make it happen at your house.

1. Create a Schedule

Everyone needs a routine, especially young kids.  The best way to creating a stress free morning is to be honest with yourself.  Start with the time you absolutely must be out the door and then move the clock back five minutes. This increases your odds of meeting your “out the door” goal every day.  You may also want to move bedtimes up to get to the bedtime that allows kids to get the sleep needed to wake up on their own.

2. Assign Duties to Your Kids

Don’t try to everything yourself. As kids get older, they can take on more and more responsibility. Don’t be afraid to let them be in charge of their own tasks. It may help to make a To-Do list with your child that outlines exactly what she/he needs to do and when.

3. Get Your Homework Done

Preparation the night before is key to smooth and organized mornings. Do as much as you can in advance, including laying out outfits, making a plan for breakfast, packing lunches, and getting backpacks, jackets and other items laid out and ready to go.

4. Organization is Crucial

One of the biggest morning stressors for busy families is managing everyone’s stuff.  Assign spots for kids to hang backpacks, put away lunch boxes, place school papers and correspondence, etc.You might also want to create a checklist of things your family needs to grab before everyone leaves the house each morning: phone, snacks, gloves, etc. and place it in a spot where everyone can see it before walking out the door.

5. Keep a Positive Attitude

Of course, this is easier said than done! Keep in mind that morning is a transition time for everyone in the family. Mom and dad have to stay calm, otherwise your anxiety can be contagious.  At the end of the day, we’ve all been late, the key is not making a habit of it!

 

 

We need all the help we can get!  Let us know how your family gets out the door on time each morning?