Getting Out The Door In The Morning

Does anyone have any advice for getting elementary age kids dressed, brushed, and out the door in a timely fashion. I feel like I say, "Have you brushed your teeth? Do you have your shoes on? Have you checked your morning chart?" a thousand times before nine. How can

It seems like getting out the door in the morning is and always has been a resounding issue for parents across every spectrum. Being late takes a physical and emotional toll on both parents and children and doesn't display the types of messages we'd normally like to send to those people who are around us, whether they be teachers, co-workers, or just friends and family. When we're always rushed we tend to get frazzled, frustrated and as a result angry or easily annoyed. Parents snap at children and because they've been snapped at the children either get angry themselves, sulk, or slow down even more to show mom just what happens when she's so cranky. Despite being one of those people who seemed to be naturally and perpetually late over the years I have found some things that seem to work well for keeping our family on track! I hope they help reduce a bit of havoc in your life!

Designate a "Launch Pad" for each family member - Make a place where each family member can keep his or her things that need to be taken along on a daily basis. Things like keys, bags, purses, lunchboxes, etc. These are the things you don't want to forget in the morning. These launch pads can be anywhere, near the front door is a popular place but in a child's room would be just as effective, so long as it's 'grab-and-go'. And remember this doesn't have to be fancy, it can be as simple as a hook on the wall (this is what ours consist of - along with a bench underneath) or a basket on the floor.  *the launch pad is something I read about somewhere but I don't remember where, it's not my original idea!*

Prepare as much as possible ahead of time - Pack lunches, back-packs, briefcases, lay out clothes, etc before you go to bed at night and place everything that will be needed on it's respective "launch pad".

Plan for Delays -  If you think you'll need an hour to get out in the door in the morning add five minutes to that for every family member you have to get out the door - including yourself. Is it you and two kids? Add fifteen minutes, so you give yourself an hour and fifteen minutes to get ready in the morning.  

Help Children Help Themselves - Getting ready like doing anything we do on a daily basis is entirely done out of habit. To instill good habits make charts for kids so they know what they need to do next and give them a quick easy way to check that chart off as they go. Over the years we've used a couple different methods for this, most recently and my favorite yet is a quick easy chart I made up on the computer printed on regular 8X11 inch paper and then slipped into a page protector. It has a picture of each and every task my daughter (five years old) must do in the morning, from getting up, to getting dressed, to brushing her teeth, to meeting me in the kitchen to have her breakfast. They're in order from beginning to end and everything is done in her bathroom. The chart a dry erase marker, her clothes - socks and shoes included, her toothbrush, toothpaste, and hair brush are laid on the bathroom counter everynight before she goes to bed. In the morning I wake her up, gently nudge her into the bathroom and from there she's able to do everything she needs to do to be ready to go without ever leaving the room. The trick here is that everything is in one room, kids can easily be distracted if they have to run from room to room to room to get ready. I check on her a couple times while she's getting ready but she does it all. Once the habit is instilled you can slowly take the chart out of the routine.

Keep Your Composure -  As hard as it is to do, and trust me I know how hard it is to do, try as hard as possible to keep your composure even on days when you are running late. Yelling, nagging, pleading will only worsen the situation, putting the whole family on edge. Gently but firmly remind your children that it's important to be on time and that you're running late. They'll be much more likely to respond to positive nudges than to negative pushes.