Rise and Shine
Let the Kids Help
It may seem hard at first—particularly for adults who like to be as hands-on as possible—but Tinglof says it's important to teach kids how to fend for themselves. Not only does it teach them independence, but it also takes a burden off their parents. Tinglof's kids, for example, have made their own lunches each school day since they were in 2nd grade.
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Start a To-Do List
Once you've got the kids helping, create a list of things they have to do each morning and then get out of their way, says Stephanie Vozza, a Detroit-based mother of two boys and author of The Five-Minute Mom's Club: 105 Tips to Make a Mom's Life Easier. She says to "engage your child by having them help make the list. Post it where your child can see, such as the bedroom door, nightstand or the bathroom mirror. For young children, include pictures."
Simplify Meals
Tinglof says her household is big on toast and oatmeal during the week. Her husband will set the coffee maker and put the toaster and bread on the counter each night before he goes to sleep. When their kids were small, he would also fill glasses of juice and milk and leave them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Pre-Load Bigger Breakfasts
Everyone knows the trick of making big helpings of chili or stews on the weekends so the leftovers can serve as dinners during the week. But who says dinners are the only meals that can be made in advance? Tinglof will flash-freeze extra pancakes from Sunday brunches—making it easy for her growing teenage boys to simply pop the leftovers in the toaster or microwave when they want a bigger breakfast during the week.
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The Launching Pad
While it's not always possible to have the cleanest house, Tinglof does stress the importance of having an organized one. She suggests having a spot in your home—her family calls it the Launching Pad—where things are organized and ready for family members to grab what they need and go. She adds that they have a stand near the front door with a coat hanger and shelves that house book bags, gym shoes, keys and other important items.
Monitor the Media
Worried about dilly-dallying? Keep things moving along by initiating a no-screen rule for everyone, and that includes no checking email and no watching TV, says Vozza. But the parents have to follow the rule as well. Not only does this offer an opportunity to teach by example, but no one wants to be the parent who has to own up to making the kids late for school because of Internet browsing or email exchanges.
