Every parent has a vision of how they’d like their families’ mornings to start. The kids jump out of bed happy and excited. You’re in the kitchen cooking a homemade breakfast. There’s no fighting or tussling. Everyone is smiling — dressed and ready to go with their hair combed.
Unfortunately, if you’ve ever tried to get kids off to school, you know that it doesn’t always go this way. In fact, it very rarely (if ever) does. But there is hope. If you want to brighten up your morning routine and transform your mornings from madness to magic, here’s what you should know.
1. Take care of you
Parents need their own opportunity to wake up and collect themselves in the morning. There are “morning people” and then there are those who need 15 minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee, meditate, or scroll on their phones without being interrupted. If you don’t wake up ready to sing to your kids, that’s okay! Know yourself and what it will take to get you there.
Here are some tips you should implement before you switch your focus to the kids.
- Hydrate: Hydrating well right after you wake up will change your entire day. Chug a glass of water and then move on to whatever will help you feel your best. For some people, it’s a cup of coffee. For others, it’s tea or orange juice. Have whatever makes you excited to take on the day.
- Relax: Nothing will make you feel overwhelmed faster than having to jolt out of bed and go right into your day. Give yourself a few minutes to lie in bed, breathe, stretch, or make your to-do list. Having these moments will transform your day for the positive.
- Focus: And by focus, we mean focus on you. If you got up early to do something, make it something worthwhile to you. Whether you want to get in a quick workout, or you want to read a few pages of the book you couldn’t put down until your eyes were forcibly closing, it’s up to you. Either way, you’ll be in a much better mood for your kids if you’re taking care of yourself.
2. Prioritize sleep
Do your children have trouble waking up in the morning? If so, it’s possible they aren’t getting enough sleep, which is vitally important for both physical and mental development. Here’s a cheat sheet for how much sleep your child needs based on age.
- Infants (4 to 12 months): 12 to 16 hours
- Toddlers (1 to 2 years): 11 to 14 hours
- Children (3 to 5 years): 10 to 13 hours
- Children (6 to 12 years): 9 to 12 hours
- Teenagers (13 to 18 years): 8 to 10 hours
If your child needs to get up at 7 am for school, work backward to determine what time they should be going to bed to ensure they get the necessary number of hours. Once you’ve set bedtime, create a routine around it. For example, many parents find that reducing screen time leading up to bedtime and reading books instead helps their child fall asleep more easily.
3. Prepare the night before
Mornings can be stressful. You not only need to get everyone ready, but you have to ensure they have everything you need for school. One way families can limit this stress is by properly prepping the night before. Here are some tasks you can work together on:
- Fill up the car with gas the night before so you won’t need to stop on the way to school.
- Pick out outfits the night before so you eliminate the need to make that decision in the morning.
- Pack lunches the night before, so you don’t have to spend time making both breakfast and lunch.
- Have your child put everything in their backpack (homework, library books, permission slips, etc.) the night before so nothing gets forgotten.
Organization and preparation are lifelong skills. You can facilitate the learning of these skills by showing your child how to get ready for school ahead of time. Invest in bins, cubbies, hooks, file folders, and any other tools that may make it easier for your family to keep everything together. Even if you don’t purchase anything extra, even having a designated spot by the door for backpacks can be helpful for families.
4. Ease into the morning
Set the tone for the morning by incorporating small, light, and positive aspects. For example, here are some ways you can make your mornings fun and allow the entire family to get off to a good start.
- Play music that gets everyone moving and dancing.
- Talk to each member of the family and ask them what they’re looking forward to.
- Hold hands, hug, or connect in some way to show each family member that you’re thinking about them.
5. Find a routine and stick to it
A routine is a pattern of events that you follow every single morning. These tasks can encourage organization, tidiness, discipline, and preparedness. Here are some ideas that you can incorporate into your child’s morning routine that will help your family get off to a good start.
- Make their bed
- Brush their teeth
- Get dressed
- Brush their hair
- Feed any pets
- Eat breakfast
- Take vitamins
6. Eat breakfast
Eating breakfast is an essential part of any morning routine. When your child eats a high-protein breakfast and hydrates well, it allows them to have strong decision-making skills and mental energy for the day.
We recommend serving high-protein foods like yogurt, eggs, deli meat, and peanut butter. This will help keep your child full until lunch and focused on their schoolwork.
Your child will likely be drawn to sugary foods like breakfast cereals and donuts. These can be okay in moderation, but they generally lack the fiber and protein that bodies need for fullness and focus. It’s okay to serve these foods as part of breakfast, but a protein-dense food should also be available.
You may also consider fruits like bananas and apples. These are good options on the go. Paired with a protein bar or yogurt, you can make sure your child is eating a nutritious breakfast even in a hurry!
7. Expect the unexpected
Routine is important, but you must look at this program as simply the pattern of events you follow. You’ll need to be flexible from morning to morning. There will be delays. Kids will lose things. They’ll be grumpy and cry. Not every morning will go as you anticipate.
Instead of getting upset or frustrated, roll with it. Your kids will adjust as you do. We encourage you to anticipate these delays and build in extra time knowing that there will likely be bumps in the road. If you’re concerned about being late or if you have an extra-long commute, wake up a bit earlier and plan to leave ahead of schedule.
Final Thoughts
Overall, positivity goes a long way in the morning. Get yourself off to a good start by waking up early. Give yourself time to have a cup of coffee, read, or get your to-do list in order. Then, get your kids up and stick to the routine you’ve devised. When things don’t go according to plan (not everything can!), keep a smile on your face and roll with the punches. Kids pick up the energy you put down, and they’ll have a much better day if they woke up in a positive household.
As you start back to school, use your pediatrician as a resource! Dr. Benitez and his team of Jacksonville pediatricians can help you with an annual checkup or any other concerns ahead of the school year. Contact us for an appointment.
