8 Tips for a Drama-Free Morning with Kids
We’ve all been there. Searching for that shirt that your child insists on wearing, rushing the kids to eat breakfast, sprinting out the door, and, inevitably, yelling out of frustration because nothing is going right. I get it, and I don’t blame you. It’s hard.
But what if the morning could be the best part of your day? The part you look forward to the most— a time that is cherished by every family member.
I hope these tips can turn your drama-filled mornings to drama-free mornings. How you start the day matters. Quality, stress-free time in the morning is a wonderful gift to give to yourself and your kids. You’re intentionally setting a positive tone for the rest of the day.
8 Tips to Improve Your Family’s Morning Routine
Set an alarm clock for the kids. This creates personal accountability for them to wake up and start their morning routine. I love this sunrise simulator alarm clock. It’s calming, and kids love it.
Pick out their clothes the night before. Have a system in place so they know where to find their clothing. I recommend that you allow your kids to pick out their own clothes and place them in the designated basket or shelf. Kids like to make decisions. Let them! It creates independence. But no take backs in the morning! They wear what they picked out. Less morning decisions equals less drama! If your kids have too much clothing, pare down a bit to make it easier. Pass unworn clothing to someone who needs it. Less clothes equals less clutter, less laundry, and less decisions.
Let them wake up, use the restroom, and get dressed before they come and wake you up. Trust me, this is key! My little ones have been doing this since they were two years old. Your kids will be so proud every morning they manage it, and you’ll be happier for the few extra minutes of rest. Just make sure they know to only get ready when the alarm goes off. I love to listen to my kids’ morning conversations with each other when they think we can’t hear. I really cherish it.
Decide on what is for breakfast the night before. You can decide for them or ask them what they want. Tell them before bed what’s for breakfast so they are not surprised in the morning. There will be no whining, “I didn’t want that” or “I don’t even like that.” They will be ready for it. I like to make a picture menu of the usual choices and laminate it to reuse daily. My kids circle what they’d like. They like that they get to order for themselves, and, for some reason, they never ask for things that are not on the list. They stick to the choices I provide them and make a decision. Viola! Happy breakfast the next day.
Prepare all snacks and lunches the day before. We like to do this after dinner in case we can reuse some leftovers. Put the lunch and snacks in the same place everyday so everyone knows where to find them in the morning.
Have a designated drop station where everything is ready. Anything you need for the next day is right there waiting for you—shoes, backpacks, jackets, permission slips, library books to return. Literally everything you need to get out the door will be waiting right there for you. We have ours by the front door.
Share a digital calendar with older kids and other adults in the family. I used to be the paper planner type, but, after making the switch to digital, I could never go back. It is so much easier to edit and share. Everyone will know what is going on for the day and be on the same page. No surprises. Swimming lessons after school, check! The bathing suit and goggles are placed at the drop station.
Get enough sleep. This is a hard one for me, so I consciously work on it daily. The kids go to sleep on time, but it’s the adults that have a hard time with this routine in our family. When everyone is rested, everyone is healthier and happier which equals more patience and less morning drama!
I hope these ideas have given you something to think about and motivated you to make a few changes. Here’s to mornings filled with giggles and lots of hugs!