The morning routine remains a sensitive issue in many households. Brushing teeth, getting dressed, having breakfast... there's a lot to be done, and you also need to make sure everyone is at their desk or in class on time. Unfortunately, children often have other priorities. With a few small changes and good preparation, you're already more than halfway to a more relaxed morning. With these tips, you'll surely manage.
Children can change the entire morning routine. Where you used to only have to worry about starting your own day, now suddenly the kids come in with their bags and lunchboxes.
Who doesn’t recognize the situation where you ask your child to hurry up 10 times in one morning? It can be different.
The evening before
A relaxed morning routine actually starts the night before.
Lay out the clothes in the evening. Especially if your child likes to choose their own clothes, this will save you a lot of time. In that case, let your child help choose in the evening. Sometimes it helps to give them a choice between two options. This way, your child feels like they are making the choice, but you still control what they pick. Everyone’s happy! Tip: Check the weather to make the right choice.
Also, think about what you need to prepare for tomorrow. Anything you do the night before, you don’t have to do in the morning. This includes the lunchbox, gym bag, school supplies, and breakfast.
Prepare breakfast and lunch boxes before hand
Think about what you want to give your kids for breakfast the night before. If all you can manage is a slice of bread with cheese and a glass of water, that's fine. Set the table in advance so that you have as little to do as possible in the morning. Want something a bit more elaborate or varied? It doesn’t have to take much time either. Here are more ideas: https://heitenmem.nl/artikel/456/20-simpele-verschillende-soorten-gezond-ontbijt-voor-kinderen/
On time to bed
Make sure you all get enough sleep. Adequate rest is essential for the success of the process. This isn’t always as easy as it sounds, but limiting screen time in the evening will also benefit your children's sleep. Replace the last half hour of TV or tablet time with a book: for younger children, it’s definitely "quality time" with you, and for older children, it’s a moment of calm for both. It's a soothing evening ritual for everyone.
Wake up a bit earlier
For many people, this is unthinkable (I’m one of them), especially if you’re not a morning person, but it really is worth it if you’re ready before your kids start their morning routine. Waking up just half an hour earlier than the kids is enough. This gives you time to get dressed and calmly drink a cup of coffee. Once you’re ready, you’ll have the rest of the time to focus on your kids. Plus, it’s a nice moment for me-time or partner-time, which is also very important. This way, you can take on the rest of the day!
Make a schedule
Consistency brings peace. Help your children and yourself by creating a schedule. Make a clear sequence for the morning routine, such as brushing teeth, getting dressed, having breakfast, and packing the bag. By following the same order every day, you create calmness and structure. Children know what to expect, and you have something to rely on. For children who can’t read yet, you can use pictures.
Stick to the schedule; it creates a routine! Do everything in the same order every morning. This way, it becomes a habit, and habits are less likely to lead to arguments. Think about what works best for you (for example, getting dressed after breakfast) and stick to it.
Calm and nice
Because you've already prepared everything, you have the time to sit down and enjoy breakfast with your kids. Stay calm, eat together, sing a song, or talk about the rest of the day... Maybe you're not a morning person yourself and need three cups of coffee to function at all, but a bit of cheerfulness in the morning can help prevent you from losing your patience quickly. Getting angry is, in any case, useless, and besides, your kids usually won’t cooperate better because of it.
If you're calm and relaxed, your kids are more likely to be the same. So try not to respond with irritation or stress when your child takes a little longer to, for example, brush their teeth or put on their shoes. Children tend to mirror your behavior. So if you're shouting and running around the house in a rush, your kids will probably do the same.
Clear agreements
Clear rules ensure that there's little room for discussion. Whether or not there's TV/iPad time, if sweets are allowed on the sandwich, etc. It’s not so much about what rules apply in your family, as long as you're consistent. It saves time and energy, two things that are definitely precious in the morning.
Alternatives
The morning went wrong, you woke up too late, a glass of milk spilled on the new clothes, and there was no time for breakfast. Fill a small bag with a few essentials for those times when things don’t go as planned, and keep it in your car or by the door. That way, you might be able to fix things on the go. A small pack of wet wipes, a mini hairbrush, an emergency breakfast (like a pouch of fruit puree, crackers or nuts, a water bottle...) can come in handy.
Make the weekend speciale
It's not wise to stray too much from the morning routine on the weekends. Make sure your child still gets enough sleep, but enjoy the extra time you have in the morning. It's also fun to start a special weekend tradition. For example, a Sunday breakfast with croissants or pancakes with chocolate, or go to the market every Saturday morning for fresh fruit. Such a tradition will really become something your child looks forward to.
Comments