Morning Routines: Help Your Child Start the Day
As a parent, you probably have a routine that you have to stick to in order to complete all of the necessary tasks to meet the needs of yourself and your family each day. Teaching your child to have their own routine can help them learn the responsibility of ensuring their own needs are met. This is a skill that can help them thrive throughout their day to day and as they get older and are expected to have more ownership over their school and personal lives.
Morning routines help set ourselves up mentally and physically for the day. Each individual’s morning routine may look a bit different based on their needs. Taking care of one’s physical needs in the morning might include basic hygiene, eating a balanced meal, and taking necessary vitamins or medication. Tending to their physical needs in the morning helps your child understand the importance of taking care of their body. Mental and emotional needs in the morning might look like organizing tasks for the day, tidying one’s space, connection, and incorporating a moment of calm. Meeting these needs helps proceed through the day with more clarity and peace.
Reflect on the morning routine in your household and identify if you are solely responsible for your child’s needs or if there are ways your child takes part in their routine.
Ways to Get Your Child Involved:
Write a morning routine checklist with them- Allow them to check off tasks they complete and identify what they need to do next. Having a checklist can help your child build time management and organizational skills.
Set up a designated space- Have a basket or shelf in the bathroom that includes all of their morning hygiene needs and/or have an area where they organize everything they need for the day such as a backpack, lunchbox, and any items for after school activities
Create a jar with folded up pieces of paper that have ideas for creating calm in the morning- Ask your child to pull one idea out each day and participate in a moment of calm. Some ideas might include saying positive affirmations out loud in the mirror, taking deep breaths, or playing a favorite song.
Give your child choices- Asking your child what they want for breakfast, allowing them to pack their own lunch, or pick out what to wear in the morning are all ways to include them and allow space for self expression.
Ask your child to identify one goal for the day- This allows your child to take a step back, reflect on what is coming up, and set an intention for their day. This practice can help your child proceed mindfully throughout their day and builds a sense of confidence when they accomplish what they set out to do.
Involving your child in their morning routine can not only help lighten your load as a parent but benefits your child in a number of ways. A morning routine that encompasses physical health, emotional health, and forward thinking is a well rounded routine for your child, and it can build skills such as organization, time management, mindfulness, responsibility, and self- care.