5 Essential Strategies to Simplify Your Child's Morning Routine

Parenting

Mar 8

Parent helping child get ready for school

Getting your younger child ready for school in the morning can often feel like an uphill battle. From sleepy protests to last-minute searches for missing shoes, mornings can be a high-stress time for parents and children. As a pediatric therapist, I understand the challenges parents face and the impact a hectic morning can have on a child's day at school. Here are five strategies to streamline your morning routine, ensuring your child starts their day positively.

1. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine

A restful night's sleep is the cornerstone of a smooth morning. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine that includes winding down activities (like reading a book or taking a warm bath) can help signal your child that it's time to slow down and prepare for sleep. Ensuring your child gets the recommended amount of sleep for their age is crucial for their ability to wake up feeling refreshed and cooperative in the morning.

2. Prepare the Night Before

A little preparation can go a long way in saving time during the morning rush. Encourage your child to pick out their clothes, pack their backpack, and set out any other essentials they'll need for the next day before going to bed. This reduces morning stress and encourages your child's independence and decision-making skills. As the parent, you should provide as much front-loading as possible to demonstrate organizational skills.

3. Create a Visual Schedule

Young children may not have a strong sense of time, but they can follow a visual schedule that outlines the morning routine. Use pictures or symbols to represent each task (e.g., brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast). This can help your child understand what's expected of them and make the transition from one activity to the next smoother.

4. Offer Limited Choices

Too many choices can overwhelm a young child and lead to decision fatigue. Offer limited, manageable choices to keep things moving smoothly. For example, ask, "Would you like cereal or toast for breakfast?" instead of the open-ended "What do you want for breakfast?" This helps your child feel involved in decision-making without slowing down the routine.

5. Incorporate Playful Elements

Turn routine tasks into a game to make them more engaging for your child. For instance, see who can get dressed the fastest or sing a particular song while brushing their teeth. Introducing playful elements can help reduce resistance and make morning preparations more enjoyable for both of you.

Remembering

Mornings can set the tone for the entire day. By lovingly implementing these strategies, you can help your child develop healthy routines that make mornings less stressful and encourage independence, decision-making skills, and a positive attitude toward the day ahead. Consistency is critical; you must remain patient as your child adjusts to the new routine. Your child does not yet have the processing power you have, so with time and practice, your mornings can transform from chaotic to calm, setting your child up for success at school and beyond.

Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone, a career pediatric occupational therapist in Huntersville, North Carolina, authored this post.

For a Morning Checklist, keep it simple! Try a picture or checklist chart:

Featured

Parenting, Occupational Therapy

Tips to Manage Resistance To Therapy for Kids

Parenting, Occupational Therapy

"Managing Resistance to Therapy for Kids" is about understanding and addressing the challenges parents and caregivers face when children are hesitant or unwilling to participate in therapy. Kids may resist therapy for various reasons, including fear of the unknown, discomfort with discussing their feelings, or simply not seeing the value in it. This topic explores strategies to help children overcome these barriers, emphasizing the importance of communication, creating a supportive environment, and working closely with therapists to make therapy a more welcoming and effective experience

Parenting, Occupational Therapy

Parenting

What are SMART Goals and How to Create Them

Parenting

SMART goals are a powerful method for guiding children's learning in a structured, achievable manner. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This approach ensures goals are clear and reachable within a certain timeframe, which can significantly enhance a child's ability to learn and succeed in various areas.

Parenting

A Guide to Kid Chores

Parenting

When you’re an adult, chores are just part of the day, and we hardly give common tasks much thought; we do them automatically as needed because they won’t get done if we don't. Yet our kids have to build up those mental muscles to do chores, and simply, if they don’t do them, well, the parents will. It’s our job to introduce chores to them at a reasonable and responsible pace. Our long-term goal is to guide our children toward becoming independent and responsible adults, move out of the house, and give us grandchildren “when we’re ready for them.” The burning question often is, "What's the ideal number of chores, and how do we start?"

Parenting

Are Schools Putting Too Much Pressure on Our Children?

Parenting

Yes, from a professional standpoint, I think public schools put far too much pressure on our children to perform beyond what is age-appropriate. Nowadays, school seems to be about more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. The pressure dial has been cranked up to eleven. Let's unpack this a bit, shall we?

Parenting

How To Motivate Your Child

Parenting

Motivating children is a nuanced task beyond mere encouragement or the promise of rewards. It involves understanding their individual personalities, interests, and challenges. Parents are directly involved in shaping their children's intrinsic motivation, the inner drive that encourages them to pursue their interests and goals for their own satisfaction. This article delves into practical strategies parents can employ to get their children “into it,” whatever “it is.

Parenting

How To Direct Your Child

Parenting

In the intricate production of child development, educators, therapists, and parents play roles akin to that of a movie director, guiding young actors (children) through their performances with a technique known as prompting. Like a director who subtly cues an actor to deliver a line with just the right emotion, prompting involves offering cues or aids to elicit specific behaviors or responses. This article explores the method of prompting through the cinematic lens of directing, detailing its purpose, the rationale behind its use in educational and therapeutic settings, and its undeniable benefits.

Parenting

What Is Front Loading - Education

Parenting

Educators, therapists, and parents continuously seek effective strategies to facilitate learning, emotional regulation, and behavioral management in child development. One such approach, Front Loading, has gained attention for its effectiveness in various settings. This article takes a glimpse at Front Loading's future, exploring its definition, application, benefits, and specific uses in teaching.

Parenting

Depression in Children

Parenting

Depression in children can manifest differently than in adults, making it sometimes hard to recognize. Symptoms might include persistent sadness, irritability, withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities, changes in appetite or sleep, vocal outbursts, or even physical complaints such as stomachaches and headaches. Parents must acknowledge these signs early and understand that depression is not just a phase or a matter of willpower; it's a real, clinical condition that requires empathy, understanding, and professional support when severe.

Parenting

Should You Help With Homework?

Parenting

It’s rather apparent that you shouldn’t do your child's homework for them, right? The question of how much parental involvement is beneficial is nuanced. It touches on developing independence, problem-solving skills, and cultivating a healthy parent-child relationship. Drawing from clinical experience and academic research, this article aims to guide parents through the complexities of assisting with homework, outlining the pros and cons, and ultimately finding a balance.

Parenting

Co-Parenting Post-Divorce: Compromise Isn't Optional

Parenting

The parenting journey is notably enriched with challenges, achievements, and constant learning. For divorced parents, this journey takes on additional complexity. Dissolving a marital relationship does not end the shared responsibility of raising a child. In this context, compromise emerges not just as a valuable skill but as a necessary foundation for the co-parenting relationship moving forward. Looking at circumstances from the other parent's point of view, treating them with respect as a co-parent, and letting go of the reasons you divorced are gifts you will give your child, not your ex.

Parenting

Competitive Sports at a Young Age

Parenting

Lace up your sneakers and take a walk with me to discuss a topic as divisive as pineapple on pizza: competitive sports for our little ones. Should you, or shouldn't you? It's not just about keeping them busy after school but shaping their young lives and emotional well-being.

Parenting

Should Children Have to Share?

Parenting

Sharing is a fundamental skill crucial to a child's social development and future interactions. However, sharing is often misunderstood and confused with a child’s ability to compromise. In this article, I'll explore the various aspects of sharing, provide analogies to help understand its importance and discuss the benefits and compromises associated with ownership.

Parenting

Tips for Raising an Only Child

Parenting

Each child is unique; what works for one family might not work for another. It's all about finding what suits your family's dynamics and your child's personality. So, in this article, I’ll tread lightly with simple everyday advice, a little stating the obvious, and some personal observations from my experience working with many only-child families over the years.

Parenting

Helping Siblings Get Along

Parenting

Oh, the joys and challenges of parenting, especially when your household feels more like a battlefield than a peaceful sanctuary because your kids can't seem to get along. It's a story as old as time, but that doesn't make it any easier when you're the one living it. Well, let's sit down and chat about how you can help your kids build a bridge over their troubled waters.

Parenting

12 Tips for Traveling With Children

Parenting

Traveling with young ones is an adventure with opportunities for fun, learning, and making memories. But it also comes with challenges—how do you keep them engaged, calm, and safe while helping them soak in the new experiences? Here are some simple tips from a fellow parent to make your travels smoother and enjoyable for everyone.

Parenting

The Proper Use of Toys

Parenting

In today's fast-paced and consumer-driven society, the idea that more is better has permeated the sanctity of childhood play. A simpler approach to playtime, emphasizing quality over quantity, is available and will benefit your little one in the long term. This post opens the conversation about the multifaceted benefits of toys for children, identifies two timeless toys that promise years of enjoyment, and explores some common challenges.

Parenting

How to Talk To Kids

Parenting

One of our most important roles as parents is being our children's primary communicators and educators. The way we talk to them—from infancy through adolescence—lays the foundation for their emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and perception of the world around them. Understanding and implementing best communication practices can significantly impact your child's development. Here are my thoughts from working with children for over thirty-five years.

Parenting

Parenting, Occupational Therapy

Activities of Daily Living Skills

Parenting, Occupational Therapy

As parents, one of our primary goals is to help our children grow into independent, capable individuals. A significant part of this journey involves mastering activities of daily living (ADLs) skills. These skills are the everyday tasks and routines essential for self-care and independent living, such as dressing, eating, personal hygiene, and managing personal spaces. If you're looking for ways to support your child in developing these critical skills, you're in the right place. Let's dive into some friendly advice and practical tips to make this journey rewarding for you and your child.

Parenting, Occupational Therapy

Parenting

Helping Your Picky Eater

Parenting

Many parents face the challenge of feeding picky eaters, whose underlying sensory processing issues often complicate meal times. Understanding these issues and adopting effective strategies can help parents successfully expand their children's eating palettes.

Parenting

Helping Children with Peer Pressure at Every Stage

Parenting

As children grow, they wander the complex social landscapes of childhood, adolescence, and even early Adulthood, often encountering the formidable force of peer pressure. Can parents help their young children through the varied terrains of social pressure, ensuring they emerge with confidence and integrity intact? They can, and here are some valuable tips.

Parenting

Popular Methods for Mastering Potty Training

Parenting

Potty training is a significant milestone in a child's development, symbolizing a move toward independence. However, this journey can be fraught with challenges and setbacks for parents and children. I've seen numerous approaches to potty training, but success often hinges on readiness, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Let's explore some popular and effective potty training methods that have stood the test of time, offering families a pathway to diaper-free days.

Parenting

Services for Special Needs Children to Help Them Thrive

Parenting

The profound difference that targeted support and resources can make in the lives of children with special needs, and their families can not be understated. From the public school system to government-backed programs, the United States offers a plethora of services aimed at helping these children thrive. Let's explore the most common and impactful ones.

Parenting

The Screen Time Dilemma: Finding Balance for Our Littlest Tech Users

Parenting

In the age of tablets, smartphones, and endless streaming services, screen time has become an inescapable part of childhood. A digital dilemma leaves many parents pondering: How much is too much? While screens can be a portal to educational content and fun, it's all about striking the right balance. Let's dive into the pros and cons of screen time for younger children, explore strategies for managing digital exposure, and highlight the best and worst times for screen engagement.

Parenting

Should You Parent The Way You Were Raised?

Parenting

One of the most enlightening aspects of my work is observing the vast array of methods parents use to raise their children, many of which are influenced by their upbringing. It's natural to parent the way we were, as these experiences form our earliest and often most deeply ingrained notions of what parenting entails. However, the world has changed significantly, and our upbringing may not always be the best approach for raising our children today. This article explores why adapting and sometimes departing from inherited parenting styles can benefit our children's well-being and development.

Parenting

Effective Discipline Strategies for Young Children

Parenting

Discipline is often misunderstood as simply a means to punish bad behavior. However, in child development, effective discipline is about teaching and guiding children toward understanding right from wrong, helping them learn self-control and a sense of responsibility for their actions. We want to avoid creating an environment of shame when corrective action is needed. Let me share some effective strategies for disciplining young children that promote healthy development and a positive parent-child relationship.

Parenting

Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone

5 Essential Strategies to Simplify Your Child's Morning Routine

1. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine

2. Prepare the Night Before

3. Create a Visual Schedule

4. Offer Limited Choices

5. Incorporate Playful Elements

Remembering

Location

Hours

Contact

5 Essential Strategies to Simplify Your Child's Morning Routine

1. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine

2. Prepare the Night Before

3. Create a Visual Schedule

4. Offer Limited Choices

5. Incorporate Playful Elements

Remembering

Raising a Happy Child Through a United Parenting Front

Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Occupational Therapy Can Help

Location

Hours

Contact