How to Establish a Calm Morning Routine for Kids That Actually Works

Inside: Five ideas to establish a calm morning routine for kids that they’ll actually follow

From the moment your alarm goes off in the morning the race is on. 

Waking your kids up, feeding them, getting them dressed and out the door (and yourself too!) can feel like a mad dash…and on some mornings nearly impossible.

Maybe your child doesn’t wake up in a good mood or they drag their feet eating breakfast or getting dressed.

Mornings can be an especially stressful time for families. But with a little advanced planning and cooperation, coming up with a morning routine that works for everyone is possible.

Here are a few tips to help everyone get out the door (without a fight) in the morning:

Start with sleep

Making sure your child gets enough sleep is the essential first step to trying to have a calm, successful morning.

If you aren’t sure how much sleep your child needs, this chart can help:

	Age Range	Recommended Hours of Sleep
Newborn	0-3 months old	14-17 hours
Infant	4-11 months old	12-15 hours
Toddler	1-2 years old	11-14 hours
Preschool	3-5 years old	10-13 hours
School-age	6-13 years old	9-11 hours

You can improve your child’s sleep by making sure they get to bed early. Research shows that the quality of sleep both kids and adults receive earlier in the evening is better than if they fall asleep later.

Of course, getting kids to sleep is a universal problem for many families. This resource provides tips on how to get your kids to fall asleep more easily.

Prepare the evening before

In order to minimize the morning rush, it can be helpful to have both you and your children get as much prep done the evening before as possible.

One mother went as far as having her child sleep in the clothes she was going to wear the next day in lieu of pajamas.

Get your kids involved in creating a morning routine

Kids thrive on routines. As their executive functioning skills are still developing, kids need routines to give them cues about what to do next. Routines also provide younger kids will security and can help focus easily distracted young minds.

But rather than create a routine alone, get your kids involved to give them a sense of ownership and increase their enthusiasm to follow it.

Schedule some time with your child just before the school year begins, or on the weekend if school’s already started, and create a routine together. If your child’s proposed order of activities doesn’t sound logical to you, ask questions to see if they can arrive at your understanding. Also, let your child know that you may need to discuss changes to the routine in the future if some aspect of isn’t working out.

Having a visual reminder of your routine helps keep everyone on the same page and allows your child to follow the routine independently.

Sample routines:

Here are a few sample routines for different age groups to help you and your kids get started creating your own:

Stay-at-home toddler:

• Wake up
• Snuggle with parent/read a book
• Use the potty
• Wash hands
• Eat breakfast
• Brush teeth
• Brush hair
• Get dressed
• Playtime
• Snack

Preschooler:

• Wake up
• Snuggle with parent/read a book
• Use the potty
• Wash hands
• Eat breakfast
• Brush teeth
• Brush hair
• Get dressed
• Playtime
• Pack backpack (if not done the night before)
• Put on shoes and/or a coat
• Leave for school

School-aged child:

• Wake up
• (Optional) snuggle with parent
• Use the potty
• Wash hands
• Eat breakfast
• Floss and brush teeth
• Brush hair
• Get dressed
• Make bed
• Pack backpack and lunch box (if not done the night before)
• Check after school activities and pack appropriate gear/supplies (if not done the night before)
• Put on shoes and/or coat
• Leave for school

Place checklists in bathrooms and by the back door

Just like routines can help guide your child through their morning, checklists can help remind them of specific tasks.

Say, for example, your seven-year-old needs a few reminders of the steps to take when in the bathroom. It could be helpful for them to see a list written out as a reminder, such as this one:

Checklists can also be a life saver as a reminder of what to pack for the day. It’s helpful to place these lists by the door where your family exits your house. A standard one might include:

It’s often difficult for kids to remember what activities they have each day so having a list by the door you leave from can remind them if they need to pack any gear or supplies. Here’s an example:

Help set a good morning mood

Just like adults, kids can sometimes feel a bit groggy in the morning, setting off a not-so-good mood. And that not-so-good mood can get in the way of making a smooth transition from home to daycare, preschool or school. 

It can also be helpful to talk about this transition time with your child when you create your routine. Ask them what they think may help. Your child may not have an immediate answer, but asking the question will get them thinking about it. Then, revisit this question later when your child may be more aware of their needs.

Eat a nutritious breakfast

Something else that can contribute to a good morning mood is eating a nutritious, healthy breakfast. 

When kids skip breakfast or mainly eat sugar for breakfast, their moods suffer as well as their ability to concentrate and do their best throughout the day.

Starting with a good, nutritious breakfast such as low-sugar cereal or oatmeal, toast, yogurt, peanut butter, avocado, eggs, and/or fruit can keep kids fueled throughout the morning. It’s also important to make sure kids rehydrate after their night rest.

If you’re limited on time in the morning, have ready protein bars, low-sugar muffins or low-sugar granola bars as well as a water bottle or other container filled with milk or some juice. That way your child can grab these breakfast foods to eat as they travel to daycare or school.

See related: How I Raised Kids Who (Willingly) Eat Vegetables, Adore Fruit, and Make Healthy Food Choices on Their Own

Tame the morning beast

With a bit of advanced planning and preparation, as well as your kids’ involvement in creating a routine, you can transform your morning from a hectic race to a calmer, easier walk.

It may take time to slide into the perfect morning routine for your kids but the effort is worth it. A calm (or at least calmer) morning can set the pace for the entire day, reducing emotional flare-ups or squabbles, and allow your kids get the most out of their school experience.

See related:

The Perfect Bedtime for Kids and How Long They Need to Sleep

6 Ways Kids Routines Encourage Independence and Bring More Sanity to Your Life

The (Super Easy) Trick to Help Kids Get Ready for School Independently

10 Responsibilities at Home That Make Kids Feel Capable and Significant

How to Stop Doing Everything for Your Child and Teach Responsibility