Can’t Get Your Kids Out of Bed in the Morning? Try This Morning Routine

As you pass the toddler stage and get closer to sending your kids to school every day, an effective morning routine becomes more important than ever. If you try to do everything in the morning at the last minute, you're asking for unnecessary stress and anxiety. If you're a new parent, it may be tough to develop an effective routine, but we're here to help. 

In this guide, we'll provide advice for creating a smooth morning routine. Then, we'll give you a step-by-step routine that you can incorporate into your family. Consider this advice, and you can keep your sanity during those hectic early hours.

Start With a Full Night of Sleep

To have a successful and effective morning routine, both you and your kids should get enough sleep every night. If your children don’t get enough sleep, it’s unlikely that they’ll wake up easily. As a parent, you want to try to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. The number of hours of shut-eye your kids will need will differ based on their age. Below are some guidelines to follow. Keep in mind this time includes their naps during the day:

• Infants (0-12 months): 12-17 hours of sleep
• Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours of sleep
• Preschool (3-5 years): 10-13 hours of sleep
• School-age (6-13 years): 9-12 hours of sleep
• Teens: 8-10 hours

Sleep is essential for everyone. While you rest, your body gets a chance to recharge. Sleeping enables your immune system to catch up and work to its full potential, so you're not sick as often. Good sleep is also essential for your mental health because it helps to improve your cognitive processes. Your memory will improve, your problem-solving abilities will be better, and you and your kids will be more clear-headed in the morning.

How to Sleep Soundly

Creating an effective bedtime routine when your kids are still young sets them up for success in the future. The best way to ensure you get restful sleep is to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, even on weekends. Doing so helps to keep your circadian rhythm in check. Going to bed at different times gets that rhythm out of sync, which is why you often toss and turn. 

Also, when you go to sleep, put your electronic devices away. If you have a habit of looking at your cell phone in bed or you allow your kids to play a video game before bed, the blue light the screens emit can cause issues with your eyes and brain, which can also keep you up. If you want your morning routine to go well, prioritize getting restful sleep the night before.

Start Your Morning Routine Early

In addition to getting enough sleep, the other key to a successful morning routine is to do as much as you can the night before. What you should do will depend on the age of your kids. However, if your child goes to school, the first thing you should do is get their stuff ready to go.

That means packing their lunch, laying out their clothes, and ensuring that they have everything they need in their backpack. If you drive your child to school, consider packing the car the night before so you don't have to think about it in the morning.

Older kids will likely have homework for at least one class. As soon as they get home from school, ask them about assignments and inspect their backpack if necessary to ensure they complete all of their required work. The last thing you want is to have your kid almost out the door when they remember that they need to finish a crucial homework assignment. 

Although older kids may prefer to shower in the morning, having younger kids take a bath the night before makes it easier for them to jump out of bed and start getting dressed in the morning.

Create Reminders Around the Home

If you've got a hectic life or you have several kids that you need to prepare for the day, it can be difficult to remember everything you need to do. So, instead of trying to keep it all in your head, write it down. 

Purchase a whiteboard and hang it up in the kitchen. Write out the schedule. It could list the days that your kids need extra clothes for sports activities at school. You could also use the whiteboard to write out the homework assignments and projects that are due each day. If you want to be extra vigilant, go on the school website and check if there are any major events that you’re missing. 

Waking Up on Time

The best way to kick off your morning routine is to wake up on time. You may have a time in your mind when you need to wake up in the morning. From our experience, that’s never early enough. Our advice is to add 10-15 minutes to the time you have your alarm set for now, so you can be ready for any unforeseen circumstances.

Set an alarm clock for yourself, and if you have a child who is already in grade school or above, set an alarm clock in their room as well. Since it can be far too easy to simply snooze your alarm, our best suggestion is to place the clock on the opposite side of the room from your bed. That way, you’re forced to stand up and get out of bed to turn it off. You’ll be less likely to go back to bed once you’re already up.

Example of an Effective Morning Routine

If you're not sure what a good morning routine entails, here's an example of a morning routine we recommend:

1. Get Out of Bed

Wake up at the same time as your child and head to their room. If they’ve snoozed their alarm, then wake them up. Check in again in a couple of minutes to ensure that they didn’t slip back under the sheets.

2. Make the Bed

Once your kids turn four years old, they should be held accountable to make their bed in the morning. This will help keep the room tidy. Plus, it’s a great routine to follow that they’ll likely continue into adulthood. It’s good that they clean up after themselves.

3. Get Dressed

Have them put on the clothes you laid out, or, if they bathe or shower in the morning, they can do that first, then get dressed.

4. Head to the Bathroom

The biggest step in an effective morning routine is ensuring that your older kids take care of themselves in the bathroom. There are numerous steps in here:

Wash Hands and Face – Proper hygiene will help your kids stay clean and help them avoid germs at school. Advise your kids to wash their hands every time they eat and go into the bathroom during the day. It’s a surefire way to cut down on sick days.

Brush Teeth – You and your kids should brush your teeth every morning and night, and floss between meals. To make brushing effective, set a timer or get an electric toothbrush, and be sure to brush for at least 2 minutes.

Brush Hair – In addition to making a nice fashion statement, brushing and grooming hair is also a healthy thing to do. By grooming, you help to evenly distribute the natural and healthy oils that help to lubricate your scalp. Plus, stimulating your scalp helps to encourage blood flow. 

5. Eat Breakfast

A healthy breakfast should be a part of any solid morning routine. Breakfast is important because it gives you the nutrients and energy you need to start the day. A nutritious breakfast will include a combination of whole grains, fresh fruit, nuts, and protein. Another way to create an easy morning routine is to prepare some food the night before, such as a smoothie made of yogurt, veggies, milk, and fresh fruit. Then, give it to your child on the way to school. 

6. Final Door Check

Before heading out the front door, complete one more check. Give your child a once-over and ensure that they have their backpack, lunch box, and proper attire, then send them on their way.

Kids Not Getting Up?

You may think you have a foolproof plan, but if your kids aren’t getting out of bed, it's all for nothing. If your kids simply cannot roll out of bed, they may need a little motivation. 

We’re not talking about bribery here. Instead, maybe play music that they like in the morning. They may wake up dancing. Or, how about encouraging a little exercise right away in the morning? Running up and down the hall may produce the energy boost they need. Perhaps making a delicious breakfast and letting the odor waft into their room will provide the necessary motivation.

You know your kids. Try different forms of motivation and see what works best in your home.

Life Requires Routine

While we think a morning routine like the one described above is effective and efficient, you can modify it to your family’s needs. Whatever you do, ensure that you have some kind of routine. A life without routine is chaos, and you’ll be destined to forget something important. Create your own routine based on our suggestions and try to follow it every day for early morning success. 

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ira Lichi/Shutterstock.com