Creating a morning routine for the whole family is important in teaching your children to be more responsible and independent. For adults, it can be a great way to stop feeling disorganized and confused as soon as you wake up. Choose the activities that are most important to your schedule and make sure they reflect your priorities. Offer incentives for your children to stick to the schedule and for your attempt to be successful, keep following it every day of the week. Create a simple, easy-to-remember routine and stay calm even if your family isn't fulfilling their responsibilities.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Planning the Morning Routine
Step 1. Set a time to go to bed
Sticking to the morning routine is very difficult or even impossible if your family isn't getting enough sleep. To wake up full of energy and ready to stick to your schedule, you need a full night's rest. You should try to get about 7 hours of sleep a night or more if you are particularly young. Teenagers should sleep about 8 hours, while children in elementary or middle school 10.
- The morning routine begins with waking up. Decide when to go to bed based on when you need to wake up.
- For example, if you set your alarm for 6:00 in the morning, you should try to go to sleep around 22:00.
Step 2. Make sure the routine reflects your priorities
In the morning schedule, you should only include the activities that really matter. Eliminate unnecessary, unimportant, or postponing tasks. For example, you shouldn't spend time every morning shining shoes, doing laundry, or taking your dog to the park. Ask yourself what things are important to you and your family, then fill in the roadmap.
There should never be a shortage of time to brush your teeth and have breakfast on a morning schedule
Step 3. Break up the morning activities in the most logical way
The best way to organize the morning is to tackle the less fun parts at first (getting dressed, brushing your teeth and making the bed) before moving on to the more pleasant ones (having breakfast, watching television, meeting friends at the bus stop). That way, if your child wants to eat his bowl of cereal right away, you might say, "You can have breakfast after brushing your teeth."
Ordering activities this way reminds your child that they must follow the schedule to the letter in order to have a happy and successful morning
Step 4. Allow for extra time within the routine
All family members should have a few minutes dedicated to activities that are important only to them. Additionally, this time bonus gives everyone a chance to catch up with other family members after taking too long to perform some action. Use these special moments to do something you enjoy, or just relax and read the paper when others are busy.
- For example, your daughter might spend her time doing makeup.
- Your husband, on the other hand, may want to polish his shoes.
- You and your partner could use this time to avoid rush hour traffic and get to work early.
Step 5. Don't include too much housework in your morning routine
In the morning, you should have time to feed the dog, take him out for a few minutes in the garden, and make the beds. However, no one should be watering the plants, washing the dishes, and vacuuming. It is best to do these longer activities later when everyone is back home and in no rush.
Step 6. At the start of school, try to get your children accustomed to the morning schedule gradually
Imposing a strict schedule starting from the first day of school would be a guaranteed disaster. To prevent children from staying up late, start the morning routine about a week before school starts. Likewise, if you and your partner have a week off, you probably can't wait to wake up late and spend all morning lounging around. However, when the weekend arrives before returning to work, you should resume your program.
Step 7. Include physical activity in the schedule
Studies show that exercising before breakfast makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. You can go for a run, ride a bike, or do push-ups and sit-ups.
Children lead active lifestyles and probably don't need physical activity in the morning. However, if your child is overweight or obese, it may be good for him to exercise
Part 2 of 4: Putting the Routine into Practice
Step 1. Get dressed
After waking up, get dressed and encourage your partner to do the same. Wear clothing that fits your schedule. If you have to go to the office, put on your work clothes. If you go out for a run before breakfast, choose a sporty outfit.
Step 2. Get your kids dressed
If they are old enough, they should set the alarm and do it themselves. If they are still too young, wake them up and help them get dressed. If they have a tendency to get dirty when they eat, change them only after breakfast.
Step 3. Brush your teeth
You and the rest of the family can brush your teeth together before breakfast. Show your children how to do it correctly, with the toothbrush oriented 45 ° towards the gums.
- Remind your kids to brush their molars and tongue as well.
- Remind children that "Brushing your teeth makes your breath fresh."
Step 4. Have breakfast
This is the meal that starts the day. A healthy breakfast has been shown to improve memory, reduce the risk of diabetes and promote health. Try to offer healthy dishes that require little preparation. For example, apple slices, strawberries, and a banana with two slices of wholemeal toast are a delicious breakfast. Alternatively, you can make a green smoothie that's packed with kale, blueberries, and spinach.
Talk to your family about what healthy dishes they would like to eat for breakfast. Get those foods and put them into your morning routine
Step 5. Take some time to get to know your child better
If you have small children, you can spend 5 minutes curled up in bed with them right before they wake up. Ask them if they have had any dreams. If they are older, you can talk to them at the table while you are having breakfast, asking what they have planned for the day.
Step 6. Send the kids to take the school bus
They should be at the stop at least five minutes before your arrival. This way they will be sure not to lose it. Help them remember to take backpacks and other necessary items.
If you wish, you can accompany the children to the stop. In particular, if they are still small, it will be very useful to take them there until they have memorized the way. Older children, on the other hand, might get annoyed if you don't let them go alone to meet their friends. Judge your child's needs wisely to decide whether to accompany him or not
Part 3 of 4: Helping Kids Stay Focused
Step 1. Explain the morning routine before imposing it
Use role-playing games to help your child figure out which schedule he or she will have to stick to. For example, you could use soft toys to demonstrate how a mom and baby cope with morning chores. Take the youngest pet and let him wake up. At that point the stuffed animal parent might say "Wake up, sleepyhead". Continue in this way until the routine is finished.
- Do not continue for as long as it takes to complete the tasks. It would be boring for both of us. Instead, explain each action briefly, but long enough for your child to know what to do.
- Show your child what to do in the evening before starting the morning routine.
Step 2. Create a table
Some people learn better about information presented visually and unspoken. Draw a chart of the morning routine on a slate with a washable marker and place it in a prominent spot, such as on the refrigerator or in the hallway where all family members pass, especially children. Enter all the activities to be carried out and the exact time when they must be carried out. Here are some examples:
- Wakes up
- Brush your teeth
- Breakfast
- Get dressed
Step 3. Offer positive comments
Keep your kids motivated by talking to them. For example, while your daughter is getting dressed, make a comment about what she is wearing. You might say, "Wow, I noticed you wore the blue shirt today. Great choice, it really fits you."
Step 4. Make routine a game
If your child is very lazy and doesn't adjust to the new morning rhythm right away, find ways to make the process more enjoyable. For example, you could ask him to play with you by completing one of the planned activities before the end of a song from his favorite album. For example, he could brush his teeth during the first song, get dressed during the second, and so on.
Step 5. Encourage and punish your children
If they don't stick to the morning routine all the time, you may want to consider giving punishments. For example, if they don't wake up on time, they won't be able to watch television until the following day.
- Likewise, you can offer positive reinforcement to children who stick to their commitments. For example, if your child is ready to have breakfast right on time, you can reward them with a nice sticker or a blueberry treat made by you.
- If your partner is not adjusting to the morning routine, talk to him and ask him what the reason is. Try saying, "I have noticed that you are not following the same program as the rest of the family. What can I do to help you?".
Part 4 of 4: Ensuring a Successful Morning Routine
Step 1. Continue to follow the program
A routine can only be considered as such if it is maintained. If not, it's just a series of activities that you occasionally do in the morning. Do not press the button to snooze the alarm and do not allow any other family member to do so. Don't accept excuses from someone who tries not to stick to the schedule.
- If someone wants to make a change to the program, encourage them to come forward. Discuss the possible change with the whole family and decide together if it is acceptable.
- As a parent, you don't need to be afraid of turning down unacceptable proposals (for example, if your kids want to stop brushing their teeth).
Step 2. Plan ahead
Choose the clothes you will wear the next day in the evening before going to sleep. Encourage your children and your partner to do the same. Prepare the bag with all the documents and items you need. Get your kids to do the same with backpacks and homework so they don't have to search for them in the morning rush. This will save you a lot of time and enjoy a relaxing breakfast together.
In addition, you should also prepare the children's lunch the night before. If you or your partner bring lunch to work, think about those meals too
Step 3. Organize your stuff
Find an easy-to-access place where all family members can put the items they use most often. For you and your partner it's about the keys, wallets and glasses. Children, on the other hand, should keep backpacks, lunch baskets, and equipment to take to school there. A small table near the front door is the perfect place to put all these things.
Step 4. Use simplicity
There is no reason to describe the morning routine in the smallest detail. Instead of specifying what everyone should eat for breakfast, just write down simple activities like "Wake up", "Brush your teeth" and "Have breakfast." Likewise, you can avoid intermediate actions, such as "Go downstairs" or "Set the table".
Step 5. Leave room for flexibility within the routine
The execution of the program should be open to modifications and compromises. For example, if your child prefers to use peppermint toothpaste over cinnamon, allow him to do so. Likewise, if you feel like eating a banana instead of strawberries today, that's not a problem.
Step 6. Don't expect the routine to be followed every day
Weekends and holidays should be moments of freedom. Sleep late and enjoy a few relaxing days at home. Encourage the rest of the family to do the same. This prevents the constant pressure due to the schedule set in the morning from leading to exasperation.
Step 7. Don't fret
If you rush around nervously and yell at your kids and partner to stick to the schedule, you will only make them feel more stressed and push them to stop following the routine. Instead of screaming, lean down and look your child in the eye. Explain to him, "I need your help. Please follow the schedule so we can all have a great day."
- Try to breathe slowly for a few seconds to regain your calm. Inhale for three seconds through the nose, then exhale for five seconds through the mouth. Repeat 3-5 times, until you are relaxed.
- Don't yell, don't insult, and never hit your kids if they can't stick to the routine.
- If your partner is stressed and late on schedule, the best thing to do is encourage them to relax. Say, "I know you're a little late today. Try to relax by doing some breathing exercises with me."
