Back to School: Managing the Mornings

by Carol Band


The school bus is coming in five minutes. Your son can't find his gym bag, your daughter needs a permission slip signed and no one remembered to walk the dog. The little things can add up to big stress in the morning. Getting kids up and out of the house isn't easy.


"I had a terrible time getting my 10-year-old son out of bed in the morning," recalls Tricia Hanlon. "Then I got a squirt gun. Now I squirt him and he gets up laughing."


Although unorthodox methods sometimes work, experts recommend that each child have an alarm clock placed in the far corner of the bedroom.


"This gives children control and encourages independence," says Donna Goldberg, an education consultant and co-author of The Organized Student.


Susan McCabe, a mother of two boys, 13 and 9, suggests doing as much as possible the night before. "We check the weather, lay out clothes, make lunches, pack backpacks and talk about what's for breakfast. That way," she says, "there are no surprises or negotiations in the morning."


Sue Sheffler, a mother of three older children, recalls that when her kids were young they would often change into clean sweatpants and T-shirts before bed. "That way they would be already dressed when they woke up in the morning. It was a huge time saver for kids who didn't really care about fashion."


Predictability and routine are key to reducing stress in the morning.


"Kids thrive on routine, and parents are instrumental in making sure that the routine doesn't waiver," says Goldberg, "If you insist that your child get dressed before breakfast, you have to stick with that rule." After 21 days of a new behavior, she adds, it becomes habit.


Many parents find it effective to use charts to encourage certain behaviors.


Anne Murray, a mother of three kids ranging from 5 to 12, says that creating a morning checklist - from getting up to walking to the bus stop - has made a big difference in her 9-year-old daughter Kendra's ability to get to school on time.


"She can see on the chart that after she has breakfast it's time to brush her teeth and feed the hamster," Murray says. "It helps her manage her morning."


Tips for Sunnier Mornings:



  • Do as much as possible the night before. Make lunches, lay out clothes, organize backpacks.


Articles Tools

Top