You love your children, but rushed mornings can still make you want to ship them off to boarding school. One kid is having a meltdown about what to wear and the other is still in his pajamas eating Cheerios when it’s time to leave for school. Some days, you might not even brush your own teeth when you’re chasing down kids — and sometimes husbands too — to get them all ready for the day. Does this sound familiar? Do you struggle to stay on task and keep your kids in check to get out the door on time?
Mornings with kids can be a nightmare, and no one enjoys starting their day off yelling at their kids to get ready, but there are simple solutions to make the mornings easier. When you are calm and collected with everything ready to go, your kids will also have a more successful start to their day. Set yourself and your kids up for success with a morning routine that eliminates rushing out the door. Here are some suggestions to create a morning routine with kids that'll help keep you sane in the mornings.
Plan the Night Before
One of the easiest ways to streamline your morning routine is to plan the night before. Meal prep is a game changer regarding school lunches and benefits everyone involved. Pack backpacks for kids and put them by the front door with everything they’ll need for the day.
Having a command center in your entryway where everyone has a space for their belongings can also help you stay organized and avoid forgetting things.
Dedicate Time to Yourself
On a hectic morning, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is yourself. No one will notice if you’re in pajamas in the drop-off line at your kids’ school, right? While that’s probably true, there are still benefits to giving yourself time to take care of your own needs in the morning.
Carve out time in the morning for yourself. It might mean waking up 15 minutes earlier or delegating morning tasks to your spouse. Do whatever it takes to have a few precious moments to wash your face, brush your teeth, and put on an outfit.
You may not be able to go through your whole skin care and makeup routine, but there are beauty hacks and new devices, like ice rollers or light therapy, that can give your complexion a boost in the morning. No one says you need to go full glam for morning drop-off, but a quick primp will make you feel a bit more confident to face the day.
Streamline Breakfast
Breakfast is the day's most important meal, but who has time to make a five-star meal on weekdays with kids? Plus, then the kitchen will likely be a mess when you leave for work, which means it will look the same when you get home in the evening. Streamlining your breakfasts can transform your entire day.
Try to have the same breakfast every day of the week to make the process easier to manage and ensure that your kids get something in their bellies before school. There are plenty of healthy breakfast options that you can rotate every week to switch things up.
Some excellent and quick options are yogurt with fruit and granola, bagels and cream cheese, and healthy cereal. Fruits like oranges, apples, and grapes have high water content to ensure that kids stay hydrated throughout the day.
Allow Screen Time
Screen time might be the last thing on your mind in the morning, and your first thought might be how unacceptable that behavior is. Although too much screen time is discouraged, a little can go a long way in the morning, especially for children. Screen time can keep you and your kids sane early in the morning and save you from mishaps while you're turned away to get ready for the day or the stress of sibling spats.
Ensure that you set boundaries and know what your kids are watching for their safety and protection. Giving kids something to avert their attention makes them less likely to care about their outfit conundrum or have a meltdown for an unknown reason while you load up the car. If there’s extra time once they’re ready for their day, it doesn’t hurt to let them watch an educational program or play a game on a phone or tablet while you continue getting ready.
