Back to school, back to morning routine

School has started. Is your household back to a routine? Is everyone ready to go on time? Chances are, if you are like most families, the answer to these questions might be “no.” But don’t despair . . . there is hope!

For many families, from the moment the alarm rings, mornings can be hectic and it’s sometimes a struggle to get everyone out the door on time. However, using a few tactics to streamline your morning routine, the process can become a lot smoother for the whole family. The experts at Sylvan Learning have some suggestions for easing the stress around morning routines.

1. Get organized the night before. Check your family calendar the night before for events and appointments the next day. Pack lunches so they are ready to go. Make sure all homework is finished and packed away along with books and school supplies. Line everything up by the door to grab on your way out — this is your “launching pad” for the day. You’ll be amazed at how much easier mornings are when kids aren’t scrambling to remember where their math book is or where their homework ended up.

Don’t forget about your stuff! When you arrive home, put your bag/briefcase/purse and keys in the same spot each day so you know where they will be in the morning. Some families have space to have “cubbies” for each person — or you might even try the multi-colouredm space-saving bins that hardware stores sell to organize various items — they are great to have by the door with a bin labelled for each person. Another option is to stack plastic crates (like milk crates) on their side and designate one for each person.

2. Encourage everyone to go to bed an hour earlier. You don’t have to go to sleep; you can read or write in your journal. If you get a good night’s sleep, you will be less stressed in the morning.

3. Routine matters. Create a routine to make the most of your morning time. Checklists can help — you might want to have a bulletin board or whiteboard where you can post lists of important tasks and calendars with the weekly extra-curricular activities.

4. Involve the children. It teaches them independence. You don’t need to micromanage children in the morning – the clothing police are not going to issue a fine if their clothes don’t match, so let them dress themselves. When your kids do things without you prompting, you have a few extra minutes to do something. Give them a list of things they need to do each morning.

5. Get up 20-30 minutes before your kids. This will allow you time to relax, make a cup of coffee, take the dog for a quick walk or peruse the morning news before your kids start their daily routine. Stagger wake up times if that helps to manage shower schedules and other tasks.

6. Make breakfast simple. Have all your breakfast items stocked. Save time by having cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit or toast in the morning. Try making batches of pancakes on the weekend and flash freeze them so they are easy to put in the toaster or microwave during the week. If you know you can’t get everyone fed before getting in the car, try making nutritious smoothies that be enjoyed during the drive.

7. Create a soundtrack to keep everyone on track. Assign different songs for different activities — one for when it’s time to brush teeth, one for breakfast, one for when it’s time to leave the house, and so on.

8. Create a daily checklist. You and your children can pull this together the night before. Maybe your daughter has show and tell at school or your son has hockey practice. List all items that will be needed for the day and make sure everything is accounted for before leaving the house.

9. Monitor the media. Keep things moving in the morning by keeping everyone off the computers, TV and phones.

10. Make mornings educational. Yes, mornings are often jam-packed but don’t forget to squeeze a little learning in. If it’s a special day, like Victoria Day, use the morning’s breakfast discussion as a time to learn about the history behind the holiday. Try reviewing times tables in the car.

11. Have a backup. At some point, you or your kids will forget something that’s needed for the day. Save time and headaches by having a backup supply kit of common items in the car. Keep a few school supplies, extra clothes and a few snacks handy in a container in the trunk.

12. Know your limits. Sometimes things are not going to go as planned. If you have things that can wait until later in the day, let them wait.

Sylvan Learning offers time management and study skills programs that help with stress management — as well as personalized academic programs all year round. If your child would benefit from additional support as he enters the next grade level, now is the time to catch up. Contact Sylvan at 902-425-2223 or [email protected] for more information.

Give your children an edge by being informed about how you can help them be successful learners. Tips for parents about current issues in education – that’s what you’ll find here on the Edge. Whether it’s about homework, report cards or summer learning, we’ll have practical tips for you. And if you have suggested topics, we’re listening.