Maybe your kids still do a really good job of going to bed around 10 PM over the summer and there’s no qualms there. But if you haven’t set any kind of schedule for their morning routines and school is about to begin again!
If your target is 6 o’clock in the morning and your kids aren’t waking up until noon you’ve got a little work to do. Breaking up those alarms into 3 to 4 daytime increments is probably going to work best. Look at your calendar and work backwards, every three days you can set the wake up time back 15 to 30 minutes. You may then need to determine how much time you need in order to retrain your kids’ bodies and brains to wake up at a reasonable hour.
Now let’s add to that morning routine, what are the things that your child needs to do in order to be ready to leave for school at a certain time? They have to wake up, get dressed for school, brush their hair, brush their teeth, and eat breakfast. Maybe your kid likes to shower in the morning instead of at night. Making sure that all of those things are again back on the schedule and in some semblance of order is also going to be important.
It’s a little bit easier when your kids are a bit younger. They work very well with routine and structure. Many younger kids work best with a routine that may revolve around a chore chart or a pictograph that reminds them of the different things that they need to do each day and gives them the opportunity to check things off as they go along.
It’s definitely motivating and especially for the first couple of weeks while you’re trying to recreate an old habit that will work best for you. However, remember that every year your child(ren) grows and mature.
Something that worked for you last year may not work this year. Test the waters and see how they feel before confirming a rigid routine that causes both sides trauma.
Like I said earlier, healthy morning routines for your younger ones are helpful. They thrive on structure and routine. Keeping to the same routine every morning will create consistency and stability for your child / children.
They know what’s coming and anticipate the success of the things that are about to happen. It offers a sense of peace and calming when their tasks are being successfully accomplished as expected.
Successful morning routines start with a good bedtime routine!
A good morning routine needs a good bedtime routine. According to the website called zebra, they use the term, “Sleep Goals” which I have never heard of and it’s outlined as such,
“The most important part of establishing a morning routine for your family is the foundation it’s built on — and that foundation is sleep. It’s no surprise parents and kids alike function better when they’ve had a good night’s sleep.
Sleep helps children develop both mentally and physically, so ensuring they get the amount they need should be a top priority. Because development varies at each age, your child may require more sleep than you think. Get your kids in the groove of a nighttime routine to directly benefit them — and you — in the morning.
Tips to establish healthy sleeping habits:
- Get enough sleep: Kids ages 6 to 13 need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each day while teens aged 14 to 17 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each day. Work backward from the alarm time to make sure everyone is getting the proper amount of Z’s.
- Stick to a regular schedule: Try to keep your kids on consistent daytime and nighttime schedules to help regulate sleep. Be sure to keep this up on the weekends, too!
- Stay consistent with your routine: Help your child fall asleep by building a relaxing bedtime routine free of electronics or TV. Reading books or journaling together can be great bedtime activities.
- Set the mood for sleep: Create an ideal sleep environment by regulating the temperature and light levels of your child’s room. Test out noise machines or fans to help them fall asleep and stay asleep.
These tips can be game changers for you as you transition into the school year busy schedule. Another helpful tip that the site suggests as well is something I prescribe to is getting ready the night before.
Morning routines go much smoother if you have dealt with the bigger details the night before.
- Pack or make your lunch in advance (sometimes I put my keys in the fridge on top of my lunch so I remember it)
- Lay out the clothes for the next day and put the backpacks by the door. Check for lingering permission slips and other things that may require your signing. Also be on the lookout for uneaten snacks that may become science experiments if not removed in a timely fashion.
- If you are like me, I tend to forget to unload my car when I get home and then I am scrambling to move things in the morning. The same applies to getting gas. I ALWAYS tell myself that I will leave a little early in the morning to fill up my car and I ALWAYS forget. It’s not until I get into my car and it’s when the RED LIGHT is glaring at me that I remember that I need gas.
- Make sure you as the adult have your stuff together too. Keys, Wallets/purses, phones etc can cause you precious time in the morning. I personally know that a 4 minute delay can mean sitting in the back of the drop off line at school versus the back. Precious time people. At my school, three tardies equals an absence and in high school too many absences means you cannot opt out of final exams. So…. just saying…
Successful mornings include me time!
As I’ve gotten older, I realize that I don’t need nearly as much sleep as I used to need and I used to sleep the same schedule as my family. But I’ve noticed that if I get up a little bit earlier than everybody else I’ve got some quiet time to myself to let me focus and get centered on what’s going on for the rest of the day.
Sometimes I will make some tea and sit down and make a list of everything that needs to get accomplished for the day. Sometimes I take an extra-long shower while jamming out to my favorite playlist.
Whatever it is, try and find a little time for yourself in the morning before the chaos ensues. Maybe you have to wait until everybody has left for school/work that day, but either way try to find a little “me time“
Good morning routines also revolves around a healthy breakfast. High protein, low carbs, low sugar is a great way to start. Maybe you’re a meal prepper like me and you make a bunch of breakfast tacos on Monday, wrap them up in tinfoil and keep them handy for the rest of the week. I love a good protein shake or a smoothie.
There’s a lot of really great pre-made stuff out there but if you have the time, investing in a small hand blender or mixer isn’t a bad idea. Go heavy on the protein and watch out for the sugar content. Kids tend to get a really great high off the sugar but then crash just as hard as a couple hours later. I know 2pm in the afternoon is hard for me and that’s when I turn to a good snack like a bit of peanut butter and celery or even a protein shake.
Lastly, the Zebra people say to be prepared for snags to morning routines, They say you should,
- Expect delays: Build in extra time for any road bumps in your morning routine. Wake up a bit earlier or plan to leave the house ahead of schedule.
- Be flexible: Roll with the punches and rearrange as necessary. Make adjustments and remember it’s not the end of the world if everything doesn’t fall into place.
- Remain calm: You’ve got this! Show your kids that positivity goes a long way and that with each morning, you get a fresh start.
If you’re reading this and school started 4 days ago you’ve got a little work to do. But if you’re checking this out in July this is a great time to start getting into the mindset of returning to school and creating a healthy morning routine. Either way, you’ve GOT THIS!