Before school began, one of my biggest concerns was getting both kids out of the house on time. There are so many small tasks that need to get done to help my daughters feel prepared and confident heading off to school, and I didn’t want anything to be forgotten. There was some trial and error the first two days of school, but we’re now in our fourth week and we’ve fallen into a consistent routine. It has definitely helped me manage my anxiety and ensure that we all have a stress-free morning.
1. Prep the Night Before
Mornings can easily become rushed and frantic, so we make sure to do as much as we can the night before. Every evening, we make sure that lunches are packed, clothes are picked out, and children get in bed at a reasonable time. We also double-check notices from the school to be sure that paperwork is signed and important dates are marked on the calendar. These little behaviors make for a more peaceful morning!
2. Wake Up First
I know a lot of parents try to sleep until the last possible second, but waking up before my little ones allows me a moment to collect myself and get organized. Although I aim for 30 minutes of uninterrupted time, even five minutes is enough to sort my thoughts before worrying about everyone else.
3. Use a Morning Checklist
My oldest daughter, Goose, is now in the second grade so she has plenty of experience getting herself ready for the school day. My little one, Belly, just started kindergarten and the entire concept of preparing for school was completely foreign to her.
The night before school started, I created this morning routine checklist to give her a visual reminder of each task she needs to complete before we left the house. I never expected it to be as effective as it is! We put one list on the refrigerator and one upstairs next to their bathroom and she just looks at the list to see what’s next. It’s given her independence and helped her stay on track every single morning.
If you think this visual will be helpful for your family, click here to download it for free!
What are some things you do to have a stress-free school morning?
Try these 20 questions to get your kids talking about their day at school! And see our favorite books to read before bed each night!
I hope that your year is off to a great start!
Talk to you soon!
