Let’s Make Mornings Easier

Transitioning from a sleeping state to a waking state can be a disorienting shift, especially when we’re expected to move into a waking state that has a timeline. Planning ahead with intention can be an essential strategy, and will support us in being as loving and patient with our families as possible as we move through our mornings.

Focus on calm consistency:

Children can sense caregiver anxiety and may reflect it back, particularly during the morning rush. And when inconsistency is inevitable (for example, due to travel or other appointments), prepare your child ahead of time in order to manage expectations.

 Be a curious detective:

Choose a calm time to talk to your child(ren) about the morning routine, and try to determine the root cause of any morning wobbliness. For example, if toothbrushing is a struggle, “I’ve noticed that it’s hard to brush teeth in the morning. I wonder why?” Pause and see where the conversation goes. Ask about favorite and least favorite things, and what might help to make the wobbly times smoother. Before bed, remind each other what you discussed.

Make a plan, and implement with visuals:

Once you’ve talked through your family’s morning routine, you can involve your child in creating a schedule (words for older children, pictures for little ones). Post the schedule somewhere visible throughout the morning. Checklists can work wonders!

Begin your mornings the night before:

Complete as much as possible in the evenings. Clothes can be selected, lunches and backpacks can be prepared. And, always consider sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 10 to 13 hours of daily sleep (including naps) for preschoolers and kindergarteners, and 9 to 12 hours for elementary schoolers. Lack of sleep has a direct impact on morning readiness—for children and for their parents.

Remember: the reality is that even if parents do everything “right” some mornings are going to be trickier than others, especially with young children whose time management skills and ability to self-regulate are still developing. We can strive to be gentle with ourselves and model calm patience, while building an intentional and consistent morning routine that will sustain our family for years to come.