The Imagination Tree

Creative play and learning for kids

  • Home
  • Start here!
  • Welcome
    • About Me
    • Popular Posts
    • Play Challenge
    • Subscribe
  • Age
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Preschooler
    • School Age
  • Activities
    • Literacy
    • Numeracy
    • Creativity
    • Physical
    • PHSE
    • Science
  • Resources
    • Spaces
    • Toys
    • Books
  • Contact
  • Kindness Elves

7 Steps to a Better Morning Routine with Kids!

September 15, 2022 by Anna Ranson

The one lost shoe, the form that needed to be filled in yesterday, the missing keys or hairbrush. All it takes is ONE thing for that morning routine with kids to be totally thrown into disarray! From calm and collected to a mad rush, yelling at each other and starting the day feeling less than great. We’ve all been there and it’s not a good way to be heading into school or work. Thankfully I’ve got some ideas to help, having had to fail many times myself and improve our systems, with 14 years of parenting my 4 kids under my belt!

I’ve got 7 simple systems you can set up TODAY that will make everything run a lot more smoothly going forwards. All of them are easy and make loads of sense, you’re probably already doing some of them! I also have a free, printable visual checklist for morning routines that can work wonders for younger children particularly.

1: Prepare breakfast the night before

This tweak is so easy to do, you can even ask the children to set it up ready after dinner. We have push-button containers that are easy to open, meaning even the youngest can help themselves to cereal. Older ones know how to make their own toast/ microwave porridge and the bowls and utensils are all ready to grab and go. Self-serving, or at the very least, having everything set out ready to go, saves so much time!

2. Lay out clothes the night before.

This one saves so much faffing! When mine were really little I did this for them, and now they can do it themselves. It cuts out morning stresses and searching for items of uniform too (if in a uniform school!)

3. Use a visual timetable checklist

This helps younger children know what tasks they need to do in order to get ready to leave. Visual timetables are simple but powerful as they reduce the need to nag and remind. Use a wipe-clean pocket wallet like this one with a dry wipe marker so that it can be reused each morning. We also have a similar version for after school. You can make your own by just writing a list on paper and slapping it inside the pocket wallet, facing the other side so that they turn it over to complete after school. Mine are very individual per child, for example listing which instrument they need to practise. Older children can use a simple written checklist instead, it still helps enormously at secondary school age!

If you would like to download our visual timetable for free, you can do that by clicking the image below!

4. Make a place for their shoes to live!

Make sure that they take their shoes off and add them to this place as soon as they enter the house. This part is key! We have a larger cupboard for the rest of the shoes, but the pairs they need for school all need to stay in this one, designated spot in the hallway. It helps so much!

5. Create a school equipment station

Set up a shelf or basket somewhere near the front door for his purpose. For us, this is a basket on the sideboard in the hall, into which they dump their water bottles, folders, books, letters from school, shin pads etc. The next morning they then know exactly where to find those items and can add them back to their school bags.

6. Make a home for the school bags

Encourage them to be added there as soon as they enter the house so that they can be picked up quickly as they leave. For us this is again a basket. A cupboard or set of hooks would work well too.

7. Create a last-minute-basket.

For a while it was ME that was making us late as I constantly misplaced my house keys and caused last minute stress for everyone. Now I have a small basket just big enough to contain my keys and the hairbrush, which seems to be the other thing we do just before leaving! Now we always know where those items are and it’s so much easier to get out of the door on time.

So there you go! 7 Simple Tips for an easier morning routine with kids. I hope you found those helpful and that they visual timetable comes in useful.

If you would like more simple parenting hacks, training on how to create a more playful home, support with getting your kids off their screens and more into their own creative projects as well as access to over 500 unique, 5 minute invitations to play/ create/ learn then come and join my playful parenting membership hub, PlayLab!

It is the next level of learning, community, inspiration and support for any fans of The Imagination Tree blog and Instagram account!

We are a group of over 1000 totally normal, busy but purposeful parents, all wanting to savour childhood and feel more connected with our kids through everyday moments and PLAY!

You can read all about it here on my store site and see if it is for you! If you’re ready for a simpler, more intentional and more joy-filled parenting experience then this is going to change your life. I can’t wait to meet you over there!

Related Posts

  • Stay at Home Survival GuideStay at Home Survival Guide
  • The importance of rhyme in early literacy developmentThe importance of rhyme in early literacy development
  • Top Tips for Preparing your Child for Starting School
  • The joy of golden glitter glue
  • Monster Slime Sensory Writing TrayMonster Slime Sensory Writing Tray
  • Paint Layer Collage and PortraitsPaint Layer Collage and Portraits

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Parenting, parenting tips, playlab, practical parenting, routines, visual timetable

« The BEST Summer Activities for Kids!
The Imagination Tree on FacebookThe Imagination Tree on TwitterThe Imagination Tree on PinterestThe Imagination Tree on G+RSS feed from The Imagination TreeThe Imagination Tree straight to your inbox

Search The Imagination Tree

About The Imagination Tree Hello and welcome! I'm Anna, Mama of 4, early years teacher and play enthusiast from the UK! Click here to read more about me.

The Kindness Elves Store
Play Ideas on The Imagination Tree

Create with The Imagination Tree

Makes on The Imagination Tree

Sign up for our FREE emails:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT