5 ways to simplify your school morning

Five simple ways to make school mornings possible (and somewhat enjoyable).

Supplied News 5 ways to simplify your school morning

As we embark on a new school year with its inevitable busyness, I encourage you to consider these five simple ways to make school mornings possible (and somewhat enjoyable).

1. Get up earlier than your children

This is a tough one if you’ve got a baby but I honestly believe that the best way for me to deal with school mornings is to get up a good 30 minutes before the children. If I can be showered, dressed and have a cup of tea in hand by the time the kids wake up, I feel like I am well on my way to having a relatively calm morning. On the days when we are running late I literally have to stop myself and repeat: “Running late to school is not the end of the world and it’s definitely not worth the yelling and screaming.” When you become a school mum it’s really easy to become a shouty mum — we’ve all done it, we’ll all do it, we can all decide that there’s a better way to go about the mornings. It should be noted, however, that a big part of getting up early is going to bed early. Again, this requires discipline on your behalf, but it’s worth it in the long run.

2. Make it easy for your child to get dressed and ready for school

Create a list with your child and run through it a few times — school morning prep is much the same, every day. But don’t presume that means it’s going to be easy for your child to stay on track. Last year, when my firstborn was in Year One, I really embraced the notion of handing over responsibility to make my life a little easier and to ensure I was nurturing his independence. The first step was to create a school drawer in his wardrobe — his school shirt, shorts, socks, underpants and hat were kept in the one place to ensure easy dressing. I also placed a list on his bedroom wall which, very simply, explained the morning’s (ideal) procedure: breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth, pack bag (lunch, homework, hat), shoes on, out the door.

3. Take 15 minutes on a Sunday night to prepare for the week ahead

I know Sunday is a rest day but I admit, I revel in the opportunity to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon getting ready for the week. This goes for your child, too. A few things they can do to ensure the week starts in the smoothest way possible: ensure all items of the school uniform are clean and in the uniform drawer; locate library books, put them in the library bag and place the bag on the bedroom hooks or door handle; polish school shoes and place them next to the school bag or at the front door.

4. Prepare lunch boxes and drink bottles the night before

I like to pack lunches fresh in the morning (but some swear by doing it the night before). Regardless of your method, it always helps to have the lunch boxes and drink bottles clean, ready and waiting on the kitchen bench.

5. Give your child a 15-minute warning

Tell your children that you’re leaving for school in 15 minutes (but make sure you say it a good 25 minutes before you intend to leave). This little gem was passed on by a friend of mine and it really works. By staying aware of the time and literally ‘counting down’ for your child, you minimise the frantic rush when it is time to leave the house (which, let’s be honest, always takes longer than we intend).

Originally published on kidspot.com.au | Words Jodi Wilson

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