School mornings can be incredibly stressful. It is usually a whirlwind of getting the kids out of bed, dressed, fed, and out the door with everything they need. Mornings are often associated with chaos and stress, and it is good to have some strategies in place to make mornings go a little more smoothly. Here are some tips!
Prepare the Night Before
One of the easiest ways to reduce stress is to get as much ready as possible the night before!
Have clothes picked out the night before, and lunches packed as much as possible. Have backpacks ready to go with homework, permission slips, etc.
Set up stations
We always try to set up things to help mornings go more easily. For example, there is a coat and shoe rack. This way, shoes and jackets can be ready to go by the front door.
There are extra toothbrushes in the bathroom so that the kids can brush their teeth downstairs and be ready to go.
Breakfast and coffee is set up on the counter with fruit, etc.
Have a Morning Routine
Having a clear routine helps keeps everyony on track. Create consistency so that everyone knows what they should be doing in the mornings.
Use tools if you need to, like notifications that go off at certain intervals to keep you on schedule.
Keep Breakfast Simple and Nutritious
Have healthy breakfast options ready. A nutritious and simple breakfast is a great foundation for the day.
Allow Extra Time
One of my strategies for just about everything with kids is to schedule in extra time, so that I am not rushing around. Having some extra time means that even with unexpected issues, you can still be on time and not have to rush.
