For a parent, there aren’t too many things more stressful on a daily basis than school mornings. Waking up the kids, feeding them breakfast, and getting them out the door on time without tears or yelling? That can feel like an impossible dream.
If you’re stressed, you can bet your kids feel the same way.
You wouldn’t dream of dropping them off in the morning without some food in their tummies or shoes on their feet. Taking them to school feeling stressed and anxious is at least as detrimental.
It doesn’t have to be that way! I’m going to share some tips with you that will help make school mornings happier for you and your kids.
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Get Serious About Sleep
Make sure everyone, yourself included, is getting enough sleep. It’s crucial to an easygoing morning routine. (Visit the SleepFoundation to find out exactly how much sleep your children need.)
Don’t underestimate your own need for sleep. Waking up at least a few minutes before your kids will give you enough time to grab some coffee and clear your foggy morning brain. If you haven’t had enough sleep, you won’t be able to roll out of bed in a good mood.
Evening Routines Matter
Getting things done the night before is critical to stress-free school mornings.
Together with you kids, come up with the must-haves for the next day. Lay out clothes, put socks with shoes, and put everything that needs to go to school with them in their backpack.
If your kiddo takes their lunch, get it ready to go. Did you know you can freeze sandwiches ahead so they’re ready for lunchboxes? Learn more about what kinds of sandwiches freeze well by clicking here.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Forget written checklists. Use pictures to remind kids what needs to happen before school. You can make your own prints or download a printable set of morning routine reminders by clicking the pictures below. You can also download another set from Free Homeschool Deals. They’re super cute!
Download or Print the Back-To-School Checklist
Download or Print the Back-To-School Checklist for Children
Everything in Its Place
The backpacks go by the door. The lunchboxes are always ready to be picked up on the dining room table. Find a home for everything and make sure it’s always there.
Have a When-Then Routine
Amy McCready, the expert behind PositiveParenting Solutions, has this to say: “A When-Then Routine is a tool to help your kids stay motivated to get everything done in the morning—even the “yucky” stuff like brushing teeth and getting dressed. It structures your morning so that all the not-so-fun tasks are completed before the most desirable part of the morning.”
In other words, no cartoons until you brush your teeth.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Pinpoint the exact things that cause stress for you and for your kids every day. Are they worth the importance you’re placing on them? School mornings mean that kids have to brush their teeth, put on clothes, and put some fuel in their tummy tanks. Those things are non-negotiable and have to happen no matter what.
But are there other things you can let go? Is it the end of the world if your daughter’s hair isn’t perfect? Is giving her pigtails worth the tear-stained cheeks? Take a hard look at your morning routine to find things that aren’t as important as you thought.
Make a Bit of Morning Magic
You can create little moments each morning that your kids will look forward to. They’ll wake up ready to see what happiness Mom has in store for them before school. Find easy recipes by clicking: HERE
Once in awhile aim for a giggle-worthy breakfast. Take a peek at this breakfast “sushi” from RaisingWhasians and these super fun breakfast “sundaes” from Dinner At The Zoo. Aren’t they adorable?
TIP: Prep for breakfast the night before. You don’t want to add stress while trying to create a happy morning!
Wake your kids up with a funny dance, or with a wacky ringer on your phone, or by playing a song they love.
Have some completely silly “would you rather” questions up your sleeve for the drive to school.
Let each kiddo have their own special coffee mug for their morning milk or juice, like Mom & Dad have. They’ll get a kick out of feeling so grown up and doing the same thing you do.
Once in awhile surprise them with an inexpensive and unexpected treat before school. You could have some new pencils for them, or a pretty notebook, or even a coupon for something fun after school. It doesn’t matter so much what it is, but only that it adds a little joy to the morning.
Love on Them
Build a few minutes of snuggle time into your morning routine. It’ll start their day with peace & calm, and it’ll boost your morning mood, too. BONUS: Read a short kid-friendly devotional with them in the morning.
Praise every choice your child makes that contributes to an easier school morning. Even if the only helpful thing you’ve seen them do is to put their shoes on, make a big deal out of it. You want them to understand how meaningful their help is to you and that you’ve noticed their efforts.
Our goal as parents is to plan, be patient, and make space for little moments of joy each and every morning.
Check out more back-to-school content by clicking: HERE
Wishing Everyone a Healthy and Blessed New School Year!
