Getting out of the house in the morning can sometimes feel like a race against the clock. Get dressed, have breakfast, brush teeth, find shoes, pack the bag... and somehow you're still trying to remind your child what to do next.
A simple routine can make mornings feel much easier. Not because everything will suddenly go perfectly, but because children know what to expect and can start becoming more involved in what needs to happen.
Here are a few things that can help make a routine easier to stick to.
Keep the routine simple
You don't need a long list of things to do.
Think about the things that happen every morning and evening and focus on those first. For example:
Get dressed
Have breakfast
Brush teeth
Get shoes on
Pack school bag
The same goes for bedtime. Keep the routine realistic and don't try to include every little thing.
Once your child is comfortable with the basics, you can always add more.
Make it visual
For younger children especially, being told what to do isn't always enough.
A visual routine gives them something they can actually see and follow. Instead of asking "Have you brushed your teeth yet?" for the tenth time, they can look at their routine and see what comes next.
Pictures are particularly useful for children who aren't reading yet, as they can understand what each step means without needing to read a list.
Let your child be involved
Children are much more likely to engage with a routine when they feel like they're part of it.
Talk through what you normally do in the morning and evening together, and let them get involved with their routine. With a visual planner, they can see what needs to be done and, once they've finished each task, close the flap themselves.
It's such a simple thing, but it gives them a little sense of achievement and helps them start taking more ownership of their routine, rather than having you constantly remind them what to do next.
Try to keep things consistent
Routines work best when they become familiar.
Of course, real life happens. Some mornings will be rushed, plans will change and sometimes everyone will be running late.
You don't need to follow the routine perfectly every single day. Just having a familiar structure to come back to can make things feel more predictable.
Give them a little time
If you're introducing a new routine, don't expect your child to suddenly do everything independently.
They might need you to remind them, help them or go through the steps together at first. That's completely fine.
The aim isn't to get rid of all reminders overnight. It's to gradually give your child more responsibility for the things they can manage themselves.
A simple routine can make a big difference
A routine doesn't have to be complicated. A few familiar steps, a visual reminder and a little encouragement can be enough to make everyday mornings and evenings feel more manageable.
And perhaps the biggest benefit is that your child starts to feel like they can do more for themselves.
If you'd like to make your child's routine visual, my Kids Routine Planner is designed for children aged 3+ and includes illustrated task cards for morning and evening routines. Once they've completed a task, they simply close the flap themselves.
