Ways To Set Up A Morning Routine With Your Child

Those dreamy and relaxing weekend wake-ups feel a lifetime away when Monday rocks up.  

Weekday mornings can often feel like a blur, leaving you and your children flustered as you start your day.   

But have no fear! There are a few simple steps to tackle those early alarm calls so the whole family can leave the house feeling fresh and ready for the day.   

1. Establish a calming bedtime routine

For babies and toddlers, establishing a calming bedtime routine is crucial. This will hopefully settle them for the night, and they’ll wake up feeling well-rested in the morning. And for parents, fingers crossed, you’ll also get a good night’s sleep!  

We know this is easier said than done. You can’t always control your baby’s mood swing schedule, and it’s more likely than not scheduled for bedtime.   

So, what kind of activities can you incorporate into their bedtime routine?  

A bath right before bed is a great remedy to relax anyone and ensure a restful sleep! After dinner, run a warm bath, and take some time out to unwind and bond together. Creating this quiet environment in the lead-up to bedtime will greatly benefit their sleep and how they feel the next morning.  

For easy playtime together, add some bath toys!

Having story time regularly before bed will help soothe your baby or toddler after a long day.  You can also check out soft toys for comfort!

Establishing relaxing routines like this will help them drift off to sleepy land, as well as support their language development and listening skills as you read.  

2. Involve your child in preparing for the next day

Preschoolers are at the age of helping their parents and learning more about responsibility.   

Doesn’t that sound great?   

A bit of extra help and teaching your children to take ownership of specific tasks will benefit you greatly when preparing for the next morning, and hopefully make it less hectic.  

And it doesn’t have to be huge tasks! Even small jobs will teach valuable lessons.  

Encourage them to lay their clothes out neatly for the following day or to pack their bag. Having their outfit ready to go and their things packed will save time in the morning, demonstrating the importance of organisation and giving you a couple less things to do.   

And who knows, perhaps they enjoy it!  

3. Create a checklist  

For parents with older-aged children, you may benefit from using a structured approach to achieving that stress-free morning!  

Methods like having a checklist will be appropriate for their age and reinforce the type of responsibilities they’ll be learning at school.   

Creating a list together will outline the key priorities and ensure a morning that is smooth-running. They’ll also get the satisfaction of ticking off the tasks once completed! And who doesn’t love that?  

Some ideas to include:  

• Placing shoes at the front door  
• Checking homework is completed  
• Packing their bag  
• Placing their lunch box on the kitchen counter  
• Laying out their uniform  

Wake Up Earlier

Snoozing the alarm is one of life’s many traps! It’s so easy to sneak yourself into five more minutes in bed, but doing so can leave you pushed for time.  

Waking up earlier and having positive practices as a family to start your day off right, will allow for less chaos, less stress, and provide more opportunities for quality time with your children.   

4. Ease into the day with a gentle morning routine

For younger children, starting the day off calmly and in tune with their natural internal clock will be most effective.   

Start to pay attention to when they naturally wake up and plan your routine to work in sync with them.  

And there is no need to suddenly jump into the day. Begin with some reading or cuddling together in bed. This quality time will allow you to bond with each other while beginning your mornings.   

5. Use an engaging alarm clock or wake up light

For parents with preschoolers, you may be stuck between incredibly early risers and those who just want five more minutes.   

To achieve the best of both worlds, keeping the morning engaging, fun and effective, will be a great plan of action.  

Let your little one choose a cool alarm clock or watch that will teach them when they should be getting up. Doing so will help indicate to those early birds it’s not time yet, go back to bed! And to those who enjoy a lie-in, a fun alarm clock will give them a nudge to start thinking about getting out of bed.   

6. Encourage independent wake ups

For school-age children, giving them the responsibility to get themselves up in the morning will develop independence.   

It may be beneficial to start having conversations about the importance of waking up on time and getting themselves ready in a timely fashion.   

If they understand why, and you give them the freedom to do so, this should encourage your children to take those mornings into their own hands!   

7. Have a Healthy Breakfast  

Start your family’s day off in the right way! Breakfast sets the tone for the day so don’t let your children skip out. Have some fun and healthy options lined up to make the morning more exciting and optimise the nutritional benefits.   

Perhaps opt for porridge, scrambled eggs, or yogurt and fruit for younger children. These options will help refuel them for the day ahead and ensure they are receiving important nutrients needed for their healthy development.   

Preschoolers may start taking an interest in helping to make their breakfast and this is a great chance to allow your child a bit more independence in the kitchen. They can stir the oats and milk together, or pour out their cereal.   

Breakfast for school-aged children is vital. They need the brain power to learn at school and eating a satisfying meal in the morning can support this.  

A healthy breakfast will provide your child with energy, improve concentration levels, and ensure they’re receiving key nutrients for their growth.  

Why don’t you list a couple of healthy options and give them the responsibility to choose a breakfast to start their day on the right foot.   

8. Incorporate Playtime

Mornings are busy, and while making sure your children are ready for their day, you may find little time for yourself.   

Set up a play area or a creative activity to keep your child occupied, simultaneously, help support their development and give you 5 minutes of peace!  

Stimulating toys like rattles and teethers, soft blocks or playmats are brilliant for younger children. These types of toys are engaging, encourage physical development, and promote imaginative play.   

For older children, activities like drawing, writing, or playing music, may be more appropriate. Encouraging activities like these will require them to be creative and engaged by entertainment other than being on a screen – something that we know works, but isn’t the best idea first thing in the morning!  

9. Build In Some Flexibility  

Don’t forget to allow yourself some flexibility. It’s unrealistic to think anyone can incorporate all these suggestions into their morning, let alone in a busy family schedule! 

While it’s important to demonstrate to your child the benefits of having a routine, it’s also healthy to be able to adapt to changes as they grow up. It’s all about finding that balance!  

Allow extra time when unexpected events disrupt your children’s morning routine. Work in an extra five minutes in case fussy moods or nappy mishaps make an appearance. It’ll give you peace of mind either way, and you will be able to deal with the changes without worrying about the time.   

Having backup plans is a great idea when it comes to being flexible in the morning.  

Make sure you have a couple of grab-and-go breakfast options for the kids, or a go-to activity to do in the car to keep them occupied. 

Summary

Keeping mornings fun, consistent, and flexible, is key for any family dynamic. While consistency is important to provide structure your children can rely on, make sure you are also willing to adapt to the unexpected.   

Getting your children involved will also teach them responsibility, and allow them to take ownership of parts of their morning. These valuable skills are great to learn at home and will certainly help parents out in the long run.   

Setting them up with a positive and healthy morning will give your children the best start to the day. So, whether they are heading off to nursery, preschool, school or hanging out at home with you, they’ll feel positive and equipped to handle whatever the day brings!   

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