Minimising the Morning Madness

Tamara Bickford offers her tips for a stress-free weekday morning

School mornings can be madness with last minute signatures, packing lunches and finding missing pieces of school uniforms. Every parent with a school aged child knows the drill. Yet, a little organisation and planning ahead can make all the difference.

For starters, minimise distractions that chew time. Make playing with toys or watching television a reward for children only if they are ready early.

Prepare whatever you can the night before. Bathing, filling water bottles and pre-cutting lunchbox contents like sandwiches and vegies can save you time. Homework and consent forms can also be completed and placed in schoolbags the previous evening.

Avoid the panic associated with still-wet uniforms. Ensure everything is washed, dry and ready to wear, so there is no need to pop things into the dryer at breakfast time.

Speed up the dressing process. Encourage younger children to dress themselves by placing uniforms on the floor to resemble a person; working down from the head to the feet. Place an enlarged photo or drawing of the child’s face in between the hat and the shirt.

Simplify breakfast.  Have bowls, spoons, cereal boxes and other breakfast supplies on the table the night before. Fill the cereal bowls of younger children and cover them with a plate to keep the ants at bay.

Race against a clock that is 10 minutes fast. The first one dressed, fed and ready to go wins a reward such as having one less chore to do later in the day. Or, if everyone is ready on time, the family can be rewarded with a favourite healthy dessert after dinner or an enjoyable activity such as a visit to the local playground after school.

Have a checklist by the door. Include hats, school bags, library books, special school projects, jackets, umbrellas and sports bags. Make each child responsible for their own things. If young children are not yet reading, use drawings to depict tasks for them.

If you feel rushed, so will your children. Do whatever it takes to stress less and the morning will be much more pleasant for everyone.