How to Establish a Child's Morning Routine

Mornings are a struggle in every house where a child resides. With clothes to put on, teeth to brush, beds to make, and breakfast to eat, the idea of even getting out of bed can be wholly unappealing to a young child. Start your days off right and without conflict by establishing an easy morning routine. Establishing a morning routine with the help of your child won't make your mornings perfect, but it will end the chaos and teach your child responsibility.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Construction paper
• Markers
• Tape

1. Gather supplies and sit down your child. Tell your child that you've noticed mornings are very difficult. Propose making a schedule that will be easy and will help him feel more prepared in the morning.

2. Decide on five things your child must do each morning. These could include brushing teeth or making the bed. Ask your child for input. Just keep it at five because that makes it easy to remember.

3. Trace your child's hand onto the construction paper with palm down and fingers open. You can draw a sun in one corner and label the whole paper "Morning Jobs" or another label that you decide on.

4. Starting with the thumb and the first job that needs to be done each morning, write one job per finger in order. You may draw a simple picture as well if your child is a pre-reader.

5. Let your child do some more decorating. Taking ownership in the project will help your child feel more invested. That way he is more likely to follow the established routine in the morning.

6. Post the list in your child's room. For the first week, help him read and remember his jobs. After the first week, he may only need occassional reminding.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep jobs very simple.
• Assist your child with jobs he cannot do on his own.
• Use the chart as a teaching tool, not an order or command.
• Remember that kids are still kids and you will need to remind your child to do the list each day. Setting a routine can take some time.