HOW TO MAKE SCHOOL MORNING ROUTINES EASIER FOR EVERYONE


Lockdown disrupted family life in many ways. The routine of getting up and ready for school is one of them. Here are some clever ideas from experts, all parents as well, on how to do it.


Imagine a school morning with no fights, tantrums or screaming, with everyone leaving on time, all packed, fed and ready.

This isn’t a perfect world and stuff happens, so you probably won’t manage that every day. But maybe you could most days.

HOW TO NAVIGATE THE TRANSITION INTO MORNING
Most of us need some time to make the transition from sleep into busy activity and most kids balk at feeling pushed, writes Canadian psychologist Dr Laura Markham, founder of Aha! Parenting.

Kids find transitions hard and the morning is full of transitions, she explains. Try to take a minute to connect with your kids, adds Toronto parenting coach Sarah Rosensweet. “Before you rush into, ‘Come on! Get up! We don’t have much time!’ give them a hug and a snuggle.” This quick connection can go a long way toward getting co-operation during the morning dash.

Here are some tips that could make the morning routine easier.

THE NIGHT BEFORE



Prepare.
After dinner could be a good time for this. Pack the lunch boxes and put them in the fridge. Set the breakfast table for the next morning. Let as many family members bath or shower before bed, not in the morning. Sign all the school slips, pack the lunch money and books for the school day. Let the kids help according to their age.

Bedtime chat.
Performance psychologist Ben Bernstein says talking to your kids before bed about the next day is important. He recommends asking "what are you looking forward to?" and “are you worried about anything?” Talking through the excitement or worries then will make the morning smoother.

Get them to sleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says one- and two-year-olds need 11 to 14 hours of sleep, while three- to five-year-olds need 10 to 13 hours; those figures include daytime naps. Kids aged six to 12 need nine to 12 hours each night. When kids get enough sleep, it becomes a lot easier for them to get out of bed each morning, thus making them more likely to cooperate.

Go to bed (yourself).
One way to know you're not getting enough sleep is if you need an alarm clock to wake up, according to UCI Health and other sources. With the right amount of sleep, you should be able to wake up on your own at about the right time. An alarm should be just for back-up or peace of mind. “The morning routine requires infinite creativity and energy from parents,” says Laura Markham. “There's no way to stay patient when you're exhausted.”

THE NEXT MORNING



First up (you).
Try to get up 10-15 minutes earlier than the kids to do a few things without interruptions. Have your shower, get dressed, feed the pets, make breakfast. With this done, you can wake the children and focus on getting them ready.

Related article: Become a morning person

Kids up.
A relaxed snuggle with each younger child as they wake up is a good way to make a connection after the separation of the night. This will help prevent morning whining and resistance.

No watching until…
Ever tried pulling a shirt over a head that’s turned to a YouTube video? The rule can be no TV, tablets or mobiles until everyone is dressed, finished with breakfast and has brushed their teeth.

They need help.
Children need help and encouragement. You’re the one who wants them in school clothes, fed and with clean teeth. They don’t want that. So, encourage, acknowledge and praise. Being there and noticing is what motivates them.

Use music.
Parenting blogger Tennille learnt a trick from her mum. She had songs, one for each job such as making the bed, getting dressed and breakfast. She played them to keep everyone on track. The kids can help pick the tunes and it teaches them some time management.

Related article: 10 Tips for raising happy, well-rounded children

OUT THE DOOR

Have a launch pad.

This will probably help everyone in the house. Put containers, boxes, hooks and whatever else works for you near the front door, says Marina V. Umali, an interior designer. Each family member has a container for stuff that's always missing when you need it: keys, school slips, bags, chargers. This will be your last stop on the way out.

If everyone managed to get ready without too much fuss or drama, hand out the compliments and share how pleased you are. They might be inspired to do it again the next day.

Related article: 5 Ways for working parents to save time

Sources: https://www.ahaparenting.com, https://www.brighthorizons.com, https://www.nbcnews.com, https://childrencentral.net, https://www.thetot.com, https://www.ucihealth.org


HOW TO MAKE SCHOOL MORNING ROUTINES EASIER FOR EVERYONE HOW TO MAKE SCHOOL MORNING ROUTINES EASIER FOR EVERYONE Reviewed by Michelle Pienaar on October 15, 2021 Rating: 5
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