How to Simplify Mornings with Kids (and Stay Sane)
Let’s be honest - morning routines with kids can be absolute chaos (please say it’s not just chaotic in my house??). You wake up with good intentions, ready to start the day well-organised and then somewhere along the way it all goes to pot. Within five minutes, someone can’t find a sock, breakfast is on the floor and you’re running late before you’ve even been able to enjoy a hot sip of tea. Sound familiar?
A little while back, when things were at peak stress, I started wondering if mornings really had to be so stressful (I mean let’s be real, they’re never gonna be PERFECT but I was hoping they could be a little easier)? We started making a few small changes to our morning routine to try to turn our morning madness into something almost enjoyable. One of the biggest things that helped us was making sure at least one of us was dressed and ready before the kids came downstairs for breakfast.
Here’s a few tips to simplify morning routines, reduce stress and maybe even have time for a slice of toast - still warm if you’re really lucky!!!
Get clothes ready the night before
If you’ve ever spent 10 minutes frantically searching for a clean school jumper while your child insists they ONLY want to wear the dinosaur socks that have mysteriously vanished, this one’s for you.
The fix:
If your kids are old enough, let them choose their outfits before bed. If it's a school uniform day, let them make any decisions that need to be made, even if it’s just them choosing which pants and socks they’ll wear. This helps their independence and will lead to less drama in the morning!
Lay out clothes the night before - all the clothes… even down to the socks, I mean it people, the socks!!!
Use a Handmade Hippo Bedtime Routine Cushion to keep everything in one place- once they take the pjs and bedtime story out of the cushion’s pocket at bedtime and replace them with the the next day’s outfit, that way everything is ready to go in the morning and saving you the time rummaging through the laundry pile when you’re already running late.
The goal? Get everyone dressed without a full scale meltdown!
Breakfast… without the battle.
Breakfast seems like it would be the easiest part of the routine… right? Somehow there’s still plenty of opportunities for it to turn into a battle of wills (if you let it) between you and a small, very opinionated food critic.
The fix:
Have quick, easy options ready to go. Cereal, smoothies or toast are quick options and usually crowd pleasers.
Manage expectations by having weekday options and weekday options for breakfast. Let’s face it, no one wants an argument over why there’s no time for pancakes on a Tuesday morning!
Get the kids involved! We have cereal dispensers for the kids to serve themselves cereal (without the risk of them knocking a box of cereal over the floor. If your kids aren’t into cereal why not let them pick their toppings for porridge, cut up their fruit or spread their own toast (yes it might get messy but they might be more inclined to eat it!)
Avoid single use plastic where possible - ditch the individually wrapped cereal bars and opt for homemade snacks stored in reusable wraps or containers.
And if all else fails, a banana on the school run will have to do!
The five minute wash-and-go
Kids have an uncanny ability to all decide to use the bathroom at the same time, at the last possible moment. Cue the arguments on who needs to do what, when!
The fix:
Simplify morning hair routines with fabric scrunchies… They’re quick, easy and kind to hair. A ponytail or bunches really don’t take long when you’re in a hurry!
Keep reusable bamboo wipes nearby for quick face washes, sticky hands or last-minute toothpaste mishaps.
Taking turns to use the bathroom in the morning can save time and minimise sibling disputes… in our house, one kid gets dressed first and the other brushes teeth and washes their face then they swap over.
Towelling scrunchies? GAME CHANGER. If your kids get sensory overload when water runs down their arms while they’re trying to wash their faces at lightning speed, these scrunchies will soak all the water up and avoid soggy sleeves and a meltdown.
We just need them clean and presentable-ish… right?
How to actually leave the house on time…
The dreaded school run. Logically, it should be simple, right? But in reality? One kid can’t find their shoes, the other kid has decided that they’re still hungry, and you’ve ended up leaving your keys in a pocket or bag somewhere but you just can’t remember which coat or bag you used last.
The fix:
Keep a grab-and-go basket next to the front door. Stuff it with essentials like gloves, hats and scarves. Bonus points for having the basket next to a coat hook with their coat ready to go.
Handmade Hippo key fobs! Have a designated hook, shelf or dish for your keys (and gorgeous key fob) to be put in as soon as you walk through the door. Let’s stop those keys from spontaneously vanishing just as you’re about to walk out of the door!
Pack bags the night before - including school bags, p.e. kit and work bags. Have them ready to go in the morning by popping them by the door the night before.
Assign a dedicated shoe zone, when the kids come home and take their shoes off try to encourage them to put their shoes away immediately - having a set place for shoes will hopefully mean that the kids shoes will be exactly where they’re supposed to be (but no promises).
Make it fun - or if that fails, make it less painful
Feeling rushed is a one way ticket to being stressed. So let's try and inject a bit more fun into the routine!
The fix:
Create a morning playlist with fun, upbeat songs to get everyone moving and in a good mood.
Turn it into a game - can your child get ready before the end of their favourite song? Can your child guess what you need for your day?
Using a to-do list with a slider they can move once they’ve done each task can help build their independence as well as scaffolding their developing executive function skills.
Mornings don’t HAVE to be a battle - a little creativity, some caffeine (and a LOT of patience) can go a long way.
Be kind to yourself!
Some mornings will go smoothly, other mornings won’t.
Remember:
You’re doing an amazing job. Even if the school run felt like an Olympic event.
Perfection is overrated - as long as everyone is fed, dressed and (mostly) on time, you’ve won the day.
A little preparation the night before can save you SO much stress. And give you at least a chance of drinking your coffee or tea while it’s still warm!