5 Must-Dos For Efficient Mornings With School-Going Kids

Let's face it, weekday mornings can be rough. Everyone at home wakes up bleary-eyed, moving like zombies in an apocalypse movie - until you start getting into drill sergeant slash scary-mummy mode. In an ideal scene, everyone's out the door on time, without any fighting, nagging, threats, bribes, tears or meltdowns - and yes, it can be done!

Aside from the obvious, like enforcing strict bedtimes and getting up earlier, there are many more practical ways to make sure your morning is more cheery, organised and efficient, so the entire family is set up to kick off the day on the right note.

1. Start the night before

This might already be obvious but bears reminding. Planning and prepping are major keys to a great morning, so do all you can the night before to minimise morning madness. This means organising outfits for the next day, pressing and laying them out neatly, readying shoes, socks and accessories. Get your kids used to packing their bag early in the evening, ensuring that all school books, homework and permission slips are already in their backpacks, ready to roll. Opt for breakfast items that can be prepared in advance (like overnight oats) or easy-to-grab such as bananas and wholegrain cereal with milk.

2. Start a bathroom schedule

If you have multiple kids sharing a bathroom, morning conflicts are inevitable. Have a rotation plan on who uses the loo first. To give everyone sufficient space and time, get them used to practising flexibility for efficiency. When one person is on the toilet or brushing his teeth, another can start changing into his or her school uniform first. This is less chaotic and crowded than having everyone trying to do the same thing or use the same space all at once.

3. Manage the vibes

No one enjoys being pressed for time. When you are up before the kids, give yourself a few minutes of quiet. Play some calm or upbeat tunes to create a positive atmosphere for everyone as you go about your routine. But kids, being kids, will get cranky from time to time. It pays to take a minute to acknowledge their feelings. Use empathetic language to validate their emotions, such as “I can see why you’re upset” or “I understand that you’re unhappy because…” Showing empathy and validating your child’s feelings is usually more effective at preventing a huge meltdown than reacting with impatience or dismissiveness.

4. Be empathetic but firm

Instead of getting carried away by the flurry of morning activity or mood of the children, it’s important to also be firm. Firstly, set clear expectations, by communicating expectations the night before and in the morning. For example, "We need to leave by 7.30, so please be ready by 7.28." Secondly, offer choices that empower your kids instead of demanding their obedience. The key is to offer options that you'd be happy with either way. For instance, "Would you like to brush your teeth or put on your socks first?"

5. Keep calm

Trying to do gentle parenting during the morning rush is a tall order. But practice makes improvement. Children often mirror your behaviour, so if you can maintain an even tone and peaceful posture even when things are not going your way, this will help them to calm down too. Positive reinforcement is another great tool for your parenting arsenal. Praise your children when they’re behaving well, instead of only focusing on their mistakes or shortcomings.  Highlighting what they did well encourages them to repeat the same positive actions. On the flip side, only calling out bad behaviour can send the wrong message that they’ll only have your attention when they make a blunder.