Help Your Child Succeed With A Morning Checklist
Crazy mornings?
Morning doesn't have to be a crazy time filled with rushing around and stress. With the help of a morning checklist, you can have a productive and problem free (well, for the most part) morning!
Kids love to know what to expect. They feel a sense of security by knowing what is happening, what's about to happen, and what they are expected to do. Some children have a difficult time with "transitional periods" and getting ready in the morning can easily fall into this category.
Give yourself a break. No need to yell, repeat yourself a million times, or follow your child around like you're a lost puppy just to make sure they are getting everything finished in time. Let the morning checklist do the work for you!
Every family is different:
The chart you see here is the one that is actually used in my home by my children during the school year. Your kids might not be in school yet, maybe they go to daycare or preschool. The list can change as your family schedule changes. We don't use the same list during summer vacation as we do for the school year. Those poor kids would be sitting by the window all day watching for the bus!
Use this example as a guide. Come up with your own routine that works best for your family.
Why it works so well:
When your child has a list that he/she can carry around and mark off, they aren't tugging at your pant leg asking you all kinds of questions like "when are we leaving" or "what do I do now?"
You aren't asking them "Have you brushed your teeth yet?" or "Is your hair combed?"
When your child looks distracted or idle, simply ask "Have you finished your morning checklist already?"
Kids really do love having a list they can hold, read, and see. They feel pride when they are able to cross off each task expected for them to complete getting ready in the morning.
**My family includes "Hug Someone" as one of the tasks. The kids simply LOVE this task. Sometimes I end up with all of the hugs, sometimes they pick a sibling or even the dog! No matter what, they get a quick dose of cuddles to start the day off right.
How it's done:
You can create your morning checklist by using a word document on the computer, remembering to include pictures from clip art, words, and lines so your child has a place to mark off completed tasks; or you could create a list by hand. It's entirely up to what you're comfortable with doing.
Customize it to fit your own family's morning schedule. It's that easy!
Now get out there & have a smooth, wonderful start to your day.
