Stress-free realistic morning routine for kids 3 to 6

At a glance

• Morning routines can be difficult for young kids transitioning into “big school” life.
• Planning ahead is the best way to keep things running smoothly and stress-free.
• Find small ways to make school morning routines more relaxing.

Before my kids started “proper” school they loved their morning routine. I miss those days when I didn’t even have to wake them up. They would run to our bedroom and bounce on the bed to wake US up. With the transition to “big school”, we found that if we didn’t make quick adjustments to our routine, our mornings would be stressful and chaotic, to say the least. Implement the following changes to see how calm and peaceful your morning routine will become.

1. Start the night before.

To start the morning routine, plan ahead. Before bedtime, give your child a bath or shower. That way you wont have to do it in the morning. A quick clean would suffice. Pick out their school uniforms and make sure they are ironed already. To save time in the morning, get the entire outfit out. From underwear, socks to shirts and jumpers and shoes. Make sure you check their Timetable and Calendar to make sure you pack for any special events happening the next day (Loads of special school days here in the UK I tell you. Dress up for world book day, Easter bonnet parade and so many more) or special requests for them to bring in something (example For Forest school bring dried leaves for worms). And finally check that all books, homework and changes of clothes are packed and by the front door.

After the children are in bed, take a few minutes to prepare the breakfast table and lunches. And choose your own outfit and anything you will need.

2. Give yourself time in the morning.

Mom, it is so important to not try to multitask or race against time. This will only lead to you and your child stressing out. Make sure you wake up earlier than your child and do everything you need to relax and get yourself prepped for the day. I used to wake up at 7am run downstairs to get my son up, shower him, dress him and give him breakfast. He would protest at every stage and I would be screaming and constantly reminding him of the time (“hurry up lets brush your teeth it’s 7:10” “J, your going to be late it’s 7:30” “eat your breakfast”). No! don’t be like me. Leave plenty of time to help your child get ready. Even if it means working in an extra 10mins for them to lie in bed and stretch before they have to get out. Both my kids are now in “big school” so I wake up at 6:30 am, take my time to shower and dress up. Then I attend to them.

Ready to be a stress-free stay-at-home mom?

3. Make wake-ups more relaxing.

Let’s face it, moms. No one likes being woken up by a blaring alarm. Especially young children. Why don’t you try a more gentle approach. Set an alarm to their favorite tune. Turn on the lights or draw the curtains. The music will help them have a gentle awakening rather than a startle. For me, I play a Kids Devotional [Truth Seekers podcast on Spotify or Seed Pod Kids] on my phone.

I see them start to stretch in their bunk beds. So, I give them cuddles and kisses and say “Good morning, did you sleep well?” If after a minute they are still not up. I gently pull their covers off them and tell them something to look forward to that day. Like “It’s swimming day today wow how exciting. I bet you can’t wait”

Now this by no means guarantees there will never be any moaning and groaning but I can tell you it does reduce it to a minimum.

4. Follow a routine.

Try to stick to a predictable routine everyday, before and after school. It could be something like wake up- brush your teeth – get dressed – have breakfast – put on your coat and go to school. Download my free schedule below to help.

5. Stay organized

Have a designate place for jackets, shoes, bags so it’s easier for the child to find things. If they are looking for something in the morning, it will be so much easier if al their things are stored in clearly labelled containers, baskets or boxes.

6. Reward your child

Finally, my favorite thing. It’s a simple way to help your child be motivated to have a morning routine. If your child gets ready for school and still has time to spare before it’s time to leave, play a quick game together or read a book. Starting your day with nice bonding family time helps everyone off to an amazing day.

Key Takeaways

• Prepare food, outfits and other items the night before.
• Get their favorite music or Kids devotional prepared and play it in the background. The Holy Spirit will calm their hearts.
• Use schedules and checklists to help everyone stay on track.

I hope this was helpful. Let me know in the comments what you do in your home. God knows we can all learn from each other.