Manage hectic
BACK TO school
mornings
If a typical school morning sees your family rushing around and
out the door with nary a moment to spare, only to be left feeling
like you ran a marathon by 9am, a new approach to your routine
might be necessary. Mornings, especially in households in which
parents who work outside of the home and
have one or two kids requiring drop-off at
their respective schools, can often be hectic.
Starting off the morning feeling harried and
stressed can carry over into the mood of the
day, affecting productivityas a result. Homework
hour and getting prepared for bed are
other typically stressful times of the day for
families. If less stressful mornings are a goal
for your family, try these strategies.
Start the night before
Doing as much preparatory work the evening before can make
quite a difference in taming hectic mornings. Things that can be
done in advance include checking and stocking backpacks, signing
paperwork, making lunches, setting out clothing,
showering, and having breakfast foods ready to go.
Establish a ‘launch pad’
Having a launch pad, or a place where all school-related items are
or a place where all school-related items are prepped and
stored is helpful. It can be a basket, box or another
container big enough to contain school items. Children can drop
and pick up the items as needed.
Make the routine the boss
Positive Parenting Solutions founder Amy
McCready says families can implement a “whenthen”
routine that sets the tone for the morning.
“When everyone is dressed, hair combed, breakfast
eaten, and school supplies packed, then you
can watch 10 minutes of an educational cartoon.”
This puts the routine in control rather than making
the parents the bad guys.
Make kids responsible
Too often parents add more stress to their plates
by showing up at school with forgotten lunch boxes or band
instruments. Instead, parents can stop rescuing their children and
help train them to be more responsible — an essential trait.
Chart wake-up times
It may seem like micromanaging, but scheduling wake-up and
bathroom times can help everyone know where they should be
and when they should be there. It also helps avoid bottleneck situations
in the bathroom or kitchen. Keep morning madness to a
minimum with some simple strategies.
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