How to Create Morning Routines for Preschoolers

A regular morning schedule helps preschoolers and their families.

The morning can be a particularly difficult time for preschool children, and for their families and teachers. With the hustle and bustle of getting dressed, eating breakfast and packing a school lunch, there is often not enough time left over for the mini-meltdowns that are part of being a preschooler. Counteract the potential for a.m. havoc by establishing a clear and concise morning routine. Whether you are a parent of a three-year-old or a preschool teacher, a well-thought-out routine will help the morning go smoothly.

Things You'll Need

• Poster board
• Markers
• Tape
• Stickers

Instructions

At-Home Routines

1. Create a morning chart. Use markers and a large piece of white poster board that is at least 11 by 14 inches to make a timetable. List the days of the week and the time periods in 15- or 30-minute increments, from waking up until leaving for school. Apply themed stickers for each morning task. For example, place a sun sticker on wake-up time, a cereal sticker for breakfast and a T-shirt sticker for time to get dressed. Go over the chart with your child. Have her practice saying the order of the schedule.

2. Start the routine the night before. Ask your preschooler to help you pack his lunch if needed, and place necessary items in a backpack. Leave the filled backpack in a special place near the door. Invite your child to help you choose a specific bag spot, and maintain the same space throughout the school year.

3. Follow your morning schedule consistently. Establish a daily wake-up time for both you and your child. Wake up your preschooler at this same time each school day.

4. Help your child to get dressed, wash her face or bathe.

5. Eat breakfast. Make this a special family time to allow a small break in your morning routine. Relax and enjoy a bowl of cereal or fresh fruit with your preschooler. Talk about what might happen during the rest of the day.

6. Grab your child's backpack from its special spot, bring a jacket if needed and head out the door.

School Routines

1. Create a morning schedule. Make a pictorial representation using markers and 11-by-14 poster board. Discuss the schedule with the children at the beginning of the school year and stick to it each day.

2. Have a before-school activity ready for children who might arrive early. Set out a variety of different toys such as a dollhouse, blocks or crayons and paper.

3. Establish a morning activity start time. Gather the children together for a morning meeting or circle time. Use the same area of the room for this special time each day. This should be a relaxing space, with a carpet or carpet squares for the children to sit on.

4. Discuss the remainder of the day during the morning meeting or circle time. This may include talking about the current theme or content, reminding the children about what times they will go outside or have activity center time, or allowing time for questions about the day's events.

Tips & Warnings

• Involve the child in creating the morning routine. This is a simple way to teach sequencing skills and help the child remember the order of events.

• Add a checklist element to the morning routine. Have the child place a sticker or star by each task after he completes it.

• Prep as much as you can the night before. This may include choosing a breakfast menu or setting out clothing items.

• Do not deviate from the schedule often. This may confuse the child.

References

• Preschooler & Child: The Morning Routine