Parenting tips for positive mornings

Parents: Do you find yourself extremely frustrated in the mornings, getting your children out the door for school?

As an educator and mom of two (kindergartener and 2nd grader), I often find myself in a high state of anxiety in the morning. Here are five tips that have helped me maintain my sanity and may help you too!

1. Print out a to-do list for each family member. Even if your child can’t read yet, you can make their to-do list with photos. Having a list of their morning routine for them will keep you from having to repeat yourself over and over again.
2. Have outfits laid out. The night before, make it routine for your child to pick out their outfit, shoes and backpack. These items should be set on a dresser or a place easily accessible in the mornings. This will be a time saver!
3. Meal prep. On Sundays, prepare on-the-go breakfasts or quick bites if your child eats at home. Additionally, get any of the difficult prep done for lunches in advance (cutting up fruit, veggies, etc.)
4. Assign tasks. This one is HUGE, as it is typically hard for parents to let go of control. Let your children pick out their own snacks in the morning, just have a designated spot for them so they’re easily accessible. I have a section in my pantry with all the snacks and paper bags close by. My daughter knows now she is responsible for packing a snack on school days if she wants one. Another example would be letting your child feed the dog and top off the water bowl. It takes teamwork!
5. Set alarms. I started to notice that I was the “bad guy” waking up my kids in the mornings. Once I purchased an alarm clock, the alarm clock became the bad guy. This sets a much calmer tone for our mornings and taught independence too.

What strategies have helped your family establish smoother morning routines during the school year? Share your ideas with us at Arizona PBS KIDS on Facebook.

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About the author

Marissa Will is the mother of two, Olivia (6) and Logan (4). Writing was her first passion: she’s a freelance writer and a Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication alumna. Will is currently educating the future leaders of tomorrow: She has spent the past nine years educating third grade with a master’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University-Yuma.