Your child is sitting at the breakfast table, staring at the pancake that they are holding, and you have already told them to put on their shoes four times. That’s when you realise they probably have not packed their school bag yet. Sound familiar?
A good morning routine helps children to feel ready for the day ahead and gives them time to calm down before they start their schoolwork. It also gives parents time to prepare breakfast without rushing around trying to get everything done in one sitting. Having a good morning routine can help children focus better throughout the day because they are prepared mentally and physically for what is about to come ahead of them. In the morning, a lot must be accomplished in a brief amount of time, and getting your children on track might be challenging. The remedy to this is a morning routine, and something we are very familiar with at Astor International School.
It’s important that your child has a healthy breakfast before starting their day because this will give them energy throughout the day so that they can concentrate well on what they are doing at school. Children who have low energy levels may struggle with concentration, therefore making sure your child has eaten something before starting their schoolwork will ensure that they have enough energy to do well during class throughout the day.
A good morning routine is important for kids, as it helps them to start the day with a positive attitude and prepares them for school. A child’s morning routine can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be, but it should include some of these things: getting dressed, eating breakfast, doing homework, and having fun activities like playing outside or watching a show on TV.
Once you've established a routine to support your child develop these essential skills, the pay-off is substantial, for the entire family. A good morning routine, for starters, will result in an easier transition out the door.
Collaboration is the key to cooperation. When a routine is constructed without the child, the routine turns into a more dictatorial one, turning it into a very tough situation. As a result, take the opportunity to meet with your child and chat about what their current needs are and how they might be addressed in the morning. This effectively gives the child an opportunity to make decisions, which they are most likely to respond to.
The collaboration does not stop there. A helpful illustration helps to make the routine more tangible. Grab a poster board and some art tools so you and your child can create an outline of your wonderful ideas. The completed poster will act as a guide that your child may turn to on their own or with gentle guidance as they prepare for the day.
This is a sample morning routine:
7.00 am: your child gets up.
7.10 am: your child brushes their teeth and eats breakfast.
7.30 am: your child washes their face, gets dressed and puts on their shoes.
7.50 am: your child puts lunch in a bag and reads a book while you get ready to go.
8.00 am: you and your child leave for school.
Approach the morning as cheerfully as possible. A positive attitude may indeed be contagious. You and your child might do this by each discussing one item you are looking forward to during the day.
Give your child precise, calm directions about what you want them to accomplish, and reward them with specific praise as soon as they begin to cooperate. You may need to remind younger children more frequently about what they should be doing and when.
Encourage your children to accomplish more for themselves as they get older and more self-sufficient. A five-year-old, for example, can place their lunch box in their backpack on their own. An 8-year-old can dress themselves, prepare their own breakfast, and clean up after themselves. Be open to editing the poster when it seems necessary. It is important to remember that this is a process of learning, not an overnight miracle. Therefore, monitor to see how the routine is improving their mornings, and enjoy the peaceful journey to school!