With the right strategy, hectic school mornings can be transformed into a smooth, manageable routine.Getty Images
School-day mornings can be exasperating – they’re right up there with bedtime for most parents. Kids will do just about anything to delay going to school and always seem to find ingenious new ways to dawdle, melt down or just be annoying.
But with the right strategy – and a bit of patience – you can transform these hectic mornings into a smoother, more manageable routine. Here’s how.
Create a schedule with your kids’ involvement
Start by creating a schedule that includes everything from waking up to brushing teeth to eating breakfast – and get the kids to help you draw it up.
“You’re going to get better co-operation and buy-in from your kids if they have some voice – age appropriately – in co-creating that schedule,” says Alyson Schafer, a Toronto-based family counsellor and parenting expert. “The younger the kids are, the more you want to make it visual or concrete, like with sticky notes or Bristol board – there are all kinds of creative Pinterest ways to do it.”
A key tip is to build in some buffer time. “If you need to leave at 8:45 a.m., say that getting in the car is scheduled for 8:30, then you can sit in the car or stand outside for 15 minutes [if they aren’t ready] and know that you’re actually still on time.”
Prep the night before
Mornings are much easier when you’ve already done some of the work the night before. Get a head start by tackling a few tasks before bed – morning you will thank you.
“The more you can take off your plate the night before, the less you have to shoehorn into an already stressful time of day,” says Ann Douglas, the Ottawa Valley-based author of Happy Parents Happy Kids. Encourage your kids to figure out what they’re going to wear to school, and gather up any materials they need – whether it’s gym clothes, permission forms, or a packed lunch.
Speaking of lunch, make it part of the evening routine too, with your kids helping out.
“Get them involved in figuring out what they want to have,” she says. “There’s nothing worse than discovering at the very last hour that you’re missing cold cuts for somebody’s lunch or the things you thought were acceptable on grocery-shopping day have now fallen out of favour.”
Find a breakfast that’s fast and easy
While getting some breakfast into your kids is important, it doesn’t have to be an elaborate spread. Something reasonably quick and nutritious – yogurt, cereal, fruit – should be the goal.
“Figure out what they actually like, because it’s much easier to get them to eat a meal they like,” suggests Douglas. “Some kids benefit from fewer choices, rather than a million – if you have a kid who loves a rut, use that to your advantage.”
If your child is resistant to eating early in the morning, consider offering a smoothie as an alternative. Smoothies are a great way to sneak in fruits, vegetables, and even protein, and they can be sipped on the go if time is especially tight. You can prepare smoothie packs in advance by bagging up the ingredients and freezing them, ready to be blended in the morning.
Set a timer
Nagging is a common go-to for parents when time is running out, but there’s a better way. Setting timers might be more effective, suggests Schafer. “So say, ‘Hey, you know what? When the timer goes off, that means toothbrushing time is done.’ The nice thing about having that ‘ding’ is that the timer is pushing the action forward rather than the parent being controlling,” she explains. “I find that kids are more likely to listen to a clock or an alarm than their parents saying ‘Get going, we’re late.’”
Don’t give the dawdler an audience
A classic kid tactic when they don’t want to do something is dawdling. It can be maddening, but the best thing you can do in those moments is to not react.
“The thing about dawdling is that it really requires an audience,” says Schafer. “When it’s time to put on shoes and coats and they’re still jumping around and being silly, say, ‘You know what? It’s 8:30 and I’m ready to walk or drive anyone to school who’s ready.’ Then step outside, because if you’re not there, dawdling loses its effectiveness. They want your attention, so they’re going to follow you to the car.”
Set the emotional tone for the day
Above all, try to let the little frustrations roll over you – even when everyone is trying your patience and you’re one Cheerio on the floor away from blowing a fuse.
“As a parent, you have the power to set the emotional tone for the family,” says Douglas. “So take a minute or two when you start your day to get to a place of calm, because calm is contagious. Set aside worries to the extent that it’s possible and focus on getting kids out the door so they can start their day off in a happy place.”