How to get your kids ready for school on time. 8 parenting tips.
There seems to be a time vortex that only exists in the mornings. This vortex makes any simple task take ten times longer than usual, painfully leaving children running after their school bus and parents in such a hurry they drive off with their coffee mug still on the roof of the car. Mornings don’t have to be like this! Take back your mornings by helping get your kids ready for school on time with these simple yet effective parenting tips.
1. Take baths and showers the night before.
Get a jump start on the following day by showering the night before. It’s one less thing to worry about in the morning.
2. Set out clothes the night before.
Reduce the dreaded indecision of not knowing what to wear by setting out everyone’s clothes the night before. Use this time to begin letting your young child pick out their own clothes. One less chore you have to do!
3. Gather school things together by the front door.
Get as much prepared and planned as possible and set aside the night before. Most of the morning is spent trying to find everything you and your children need. Reduce the number of things you must do in the morning to ensure your kids are ready for school on time.
4. Set the alarm 15-30 minutes earlier.
Along with preparing as much as you can the night before, you should also wake up a little earlier. This gives you more time to eat a healthy breakfast and is a buffer in case something unexpected happens. Having enough time in the morning also reduces stress, a perfect way to start the day.
5. Prepare kid-friendly breakfast treats.
Boiled eggs, Eggos, toast, muffins, and PB&Js are some breakfast treats that young kids can quickly get for themselves. You can prepare them a week in advance, making breakfast time super-fast. These treats are also easy to hold and eat without utensils, making them travel-friendly.
6. Plan to leave 15 minutes before you absolutely need to.
Set a time for everyone to meet by the front door with everything in hand 15 minutes before you must leave. It will likely take 15 minutes to officially get everyone ready to walk out the door and on the way.
7. Have an emergency plan.
If the time in the morning is not pleasant for your family, follow your emergency plan. This plan can involve ensuring you have the necessities (breakfast, homework, lunch box, clothes) and doing everything else in the car. Have your children put on their shoes in the car. Eat granola bars on the way. Bring brushes and deodorant so they can participate in a little good hygiene on the way to school.
8. Reward the process.
Routines are all about structure. Now that we’ve laid out handy steps to keep the family on schedule in the morning add them to the kids’ chore chart. As they accomplish a perfect week, reward them from a universal wish list such as Wishfinity.