9 Ways to Create a School Morning Routine for Kids (Printables)
A school morning routine for kids should be positive, easy, and stress-free… right?
Well… experience tells us otherwise.
The alarm goes off, and the school morning routine chaos unfolds! A typical morning involves snoozing the alarm, waking up late, rushing to get ready for school, the kids fighting to use the bathroom, and us moms putting our makeup in the car because we have no time at home.
Sound familiar? Well, you are not alone.
Most parents experience the same frustration every morning as they try to get everyone up, running, and out the door on time for school (and work).
In addition, let’s face it… Not all of us are morning people.
However, our kids depend on us every morning to wake up, prepare for the day, and send them to school.
If we succeed, we can help them start their day (and ours) on a positive note.
So, how do we make one of the most stressful parenting routines work in our favor?
Let’s take a look at these 9-school morning routines for kids’ ideas so that we can once and for all start enjoying mornings again, sort of.
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1. Prepare the day before
A stress-free school morning routine for kids starts with a good foundation and preparation.
You will likely get a better night’s sleep if you know that when you wake up, you won’t have to scramble to get things done at the last minute.
Here are a few things you can do to ensure you save precious time during your kid’s school morning routine:
- Lay out uniforms/school clothes, shoes, and socks in a designated area for each child
- Prepare lunches ahead of time (pack fruit salads, vegetables, cold sandwiches, etc.)
- If you pack their lunch, have a pre-written lunch and snack menu for the week
- Lay out your work clothes and other supplies (purse, keys, etc.)
2. A good morning routine starts with a good night routine!
One of the most important aspects of a great kid’s morning routine is ensuring they had a great routine the night prior.
Here are a few great tips for a bedtime routine to help kids wake up refreshed and renewed.
Early bedtime
I know it is an obvious suggestion, but it is worth mentioning. We are all guilty of losing track of time and forgetting to send the kids to bed early on a school night. Older kids will often fuss about going to bed early. However, it is so meaningful they get a good night’s sleep to counteract morning exhaustion and crankiness.
Creating a calming environment
It is no secret that the more relaxed we go to bed, the better we sleep and the more rested we wake up in the morning. A warm shower, reading a book, a dim room, and no TV one hour before bed all help create a great night routine.
Finish all homework by 6 pm!
This might sound like a weird suggestion, but you will be surprised that some kids finish their homework during breakfast or on their way to school. None of those things will lead to a stress-free morning routine for your kids or you!
Involve them
Teaching our kids from early on how to be responsible for themselves and their belongings is a crucial aspect of positive parenting. If they learn to set out their school clothes and ensure they have everything they need the following day, morning routines will be much smoother for everyone!
3. Get up before Kids
This step is fundamental in starting a stress-free school morning routine for kids. Waking up earlier than our children allows us to set time aside and find some much-needed quiet time.
When you dedicate time for yourself first thing in the morning, tackling what’s to come can feel less daunting.
Here are a few ideas of the things you can do in the early morning to reset your mind and start on a positive note:
- Eat a healthy protein breakfast
- Turn on the radio (I love smooth Jazz and Christian Worship)
- Get an early workout (15-minute Yoga videos are great)
- Read a chapter of a new book while eating breakfast
- Start reading a daily devotional
- Read a chapter of the Bible
- Meditate
Waking up extra early to do any of these things might sound more like a sacrifice than anything else. But trust me, once you get going, you will realize the incredible difference it has on the rest of your day if you’re consistent.
Related Article: Top 10 Qualities of Highly Productive Moms
4. Help them Start the Morning Right
Just like you need to set the mood to start your day on a good note, helping your kids do the same is also as important.
Usually, how they start their morning will dictate how their day will progress.
So, implement things in your school morning routine that help your kids start a stress-free, calm, and joyous day alongside you by:
- Waking them up with a kiss, a snuggle, and a gentle voice.
- Hang positive affirmation cards in their bathroom mirror.
- If you have older kids who are not into kissing (e.g., teenagers!), help them program their alarm clock to their favorite song.
- Please encourage them to listen to calming music as they eat breakfast instead of watching TV or playing with their iPads.
- Read an inspirational quote together and discuss it.
Thinking happy, hopeful, optimistic, joyful thoughts decreases cortisol and produces serotonin, which creates a sense of well-being. (Source).
5. Time Stagger
Time staggering is significant if you have limited bathroom space and more than one child.
By waking your kids in 5-10 minute intervals, you can ensure their school morning schedules stagger.
In turn, it prevents the famous “MOM! She’s still in the bathroom” dilemma.
Wake up your “least morning loving” child earlier so that they have a bit more time to get ready. Then, wake up every other child for 5-10 minutes afterward.
Creating a time-stragging schedule will be a lifesaver in your morning routine if you have older kids. Even if everyone wakes up simultaneously, they will have designated times to share things, such as the infamous bathroom!
6. Create a morning school routine chart
You can also create a school morning routine chart using the time staggering method above!
Routine charts prove children have a sense of order, control, and expectancy, which combats anxiety and frustration, especially for younger children.
Designate time slots for morning tasks such as bathroom time, breakfast, getting dressed and ready, and TV time (if you choose to incorporate that into your child’s morning routine).
The morning school routine chart is most beneficial for parents with multiple children. At the end of this article, there are free printable school morning routine charts for kids.
Younger kids use stickers and images to describe tasks such as brushing their teeth, eating breakfast, etc.
Once they have a mental note of those times by doing them often, it will become second nature.
You can even implement a weekly/monthly reward system for those who follow their charts successfully.
In addition to a morning routine schedule, after-school routines are essential.
Family Routines: How to Automate Your Housewife Life will teach you:
- Lunch Routines
- Kids helping with meals
- Morning routines
- After school routines
- Packing
- Allowance
- Cleaning and house chores routines
- Homework routines
- and…many more!
Sometimes, all we need is a fresh set of ideas we can implement to what we already do daily, but more efficiently.
Maybe you can kick up your feet at the night’s end and watch Netflix after all.
7. Assign spaces
Nothing drives me crazier than six o’clock in the morning, “Mom, where is my backpack!!!” I’ve been there, done that, fixed that problem.
Find a corner in your home (close to the door or your kid’s room where you can create assigned spaces for their school-related items).
Whether it be a mud room, a command center, or a wall with hooks and a few cubbies—get organized! It will change your life.
Here are some great organization items you can order from Amazon:
This Mudroom Bench is a great, simple way to keep school school stuff organized. Add hooks on the wall behind it for backpacks and coats, and voila!
This shoe storage with hooks is not only beautiful but also beneficial. This is the perfect solution for keeping everything organized when they arrive from school, making each morning routine for kids much more manageable.
You will never have to hear, “Mom, where is my backpack again!”
Okay, almost never.
8. Morning tasks first, then TV
It isn’t a secret that most kids (including mine) like to wake up and go straight to the television to watch cartoons or use their electronic devices as they eat breakfast.
Television or any other electronic device tends to delay the school morning routine process by distracting them from their morning task.
To solve that problem, ensure they first use the restroom, wash their faces, brush their teeth, and make their bed before they do anything else.
9. It’s all about positive vibes!
Positive morning routines for kids are not very hard to achieve. But it does take patience, repetition, and persistence.
Just like adults, how our children feel as they start their day will likely impact the rest of it.
Introducing positive affirmations is a significant and positive technique to implement in your morning routine with your child.
Positive affirmations help our kids repeat positive and pleasant phrases, impacting how they think, feel, and act.
A great way to introduce positive affirmations is to use Positive Affirmation Cards for Kids.
Here is a great printable bundle!
You can use positive affirmation cards for children in multiple ways, but particularly in the morning, you can hang their cards in the bathroom mirror. It is easily achievable with tape or a small Command Hook. As they brush their teeth, they can read and reflect on the daily affirmation.
If you drive your kids to school, ask them about their daily affirmation and engage in a meaningful conversation emphasizing that positive phrase. If your kids take the bus, then ask them over breakfast instead.
★ Related articles:
- 9 Sanity-Saving Goal-Setting Ideas For Busy Moms
- 7 Important Before and After School Routines for Kids of All Ages
- What is Mindful Parenting and 9 Great Ways to Apply it Daily
- The Importance of Present Parenting and 9 Ways to Be a More Present Parent Today
- 75 Positive Affirmations for Kids (Printable Download)
In Summary
School morning routines with kids can feel daunting and chaotic.
That is true whether you have one child or ten.
Some mornings may also seem more challenging than others, which is okay.
But sticking to the tips we just covered here will enable you to start your school morning routine less stressed and overwhelmed.
In turn, helping your children also start their day on a more positive and happier note.
See you in the morning, mama…. Before the kids get up, of course.
What does your morning routine for kids look like?
