On an average morning in my house you can hear my bellowing voice down the hall, “Sophia, time to get up.”  Or, “Come, on hurry up!”  And then, “Come on Soph now, we’re going to be late!”  Every morning is the same routine over and over again with the same outcome.  Often there is fighting, many times tears.  It’s like I’m stuck in that movie Groundhog Day and I’m Bill Murray living the same day over and over again.  You’d think I’d learn after all this time to just get up earlier or do some things the night before to make it easier, but no.

A recent article I read in Parents magazine has led me to the conclusion that things are going to change this school year.  Sophia will start preschool in only a few short weeks and I’m determined to make our mornings a little bit easier and less stressful….if I don’t hit the snooze for the millionth time.  Okay, okay, I vow to give this routine a try for at least a week because after reading these tips, I could benefit from every single one.

Here is what they recommend for families like mine who can’t seem to get it together in the morning:

The Night Before
-Choose an outfit for the next day.  Lay out the entire outfit before bedtime and let you child help pick it out so there is no backlash in the morning.
-Check the schedule to see what activities are scheduled the following day.  That way you can place any books you need by the door, sports uniforms, etc.


-Place your child’s backpack by the door ready to go, so there won’t be any running around hunting for it the next day.
-If your kids are older, review any homework assignments due the following day.
-Pack your child’s lunch the night before.  It’s one less stressor in the morning.
-Have a breakfast plan.  Set out the cereal bowl, utensils and make it easy to grab the next day.

The Morning
-Stick to a routine.  If needed post words or pictures of what your child needs to get done, like brushing teeth, making the bed, combing their hair, etc.  This will allow them to do more things for themselves without your help.
-Limit distractions like television, computers and toys.
-If your child is slow moving in the morning, wake them up earlier.  This will give them more time to get up and moving.

Now it’s time to give it a try.  I’ll report back in a few weeks and let you know if it’s helped in our household.  If you’re in a similar situation, I’d love to know what you think or if you have any other tips you’ve tried that have helped.  Good luck!