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Morning Routine Secret Weapon: How I Get Two Kids Out of the House on Time

Morning Routine Secret Weapon: How I Get Two Kids Out of the House On Time | organizedartistry.com #timemanagementforparents #morningroutinekids #backtoschooltips

 

“I want to watch TV!”

“I want to play with my toys!”

“I’ll brush my teeth later!”

Have you heard these cries from your kids in the morning? They are direct quotes from my two children. And on occasion, I have been guilty of giving in to them. What did it get me? Some prodding, pleading and yelling, a mad dash out the door, and no one starting out their day in a good mood.

I like to start my day in a good mood–I want the same for my kids. It’s important to start the day off with a smile–especially at back-to-school time.

How did I turn our morning routine around?

My secret weapon: 

The ‘Business Before ‘Pleasure’ Method for Morning Routines

What does the ‘Business Before Pleasure’ Method involve? Its basic philosophy is that all morning routine ‘business’ must be taken care of before ‘pleasure’ (playing, watching TV, using an iPad). Morning routine ‘business’ includes (in no particular order):

• Using the bathroom and washing face/brushing teeth
• Selecting clothes (if it wasn’t done the night before)
• Getting dressed
• Eating breakfast
• Cleaning up after breakfast
• Putting on shoes
• Checking school bag for everything needed for the day

My kids are 7 and 3. My big guy can do most of the ‘morning business’ himself by now but still needs a bit of prodding. My little one can be a bit of a ‘wild card.’ You never know what he’s going to do. For these reasons and more, it was important to create a set of ‘rules’ to dictate what needs to happen before they could play/watch TV and so I can get them to school on time.

What makes the ‘Business Before Pleasure’ Method an easier way of getting ready in the morning?
• Lunches and school bags are prepared the night before
• The weather report is checked and clothes are picked out for the next day before bedtime
• The kids know what they are responsible for accomplishing in the morning
• They are learning how to manage their time
• Their desire to have that extra ‘pleasure’ time in the morning motivates them and ensures me a little extra time in case of an emergency or glitch (ex. full diaper/last-minute requests/faulty coat zipper)

Thanks to the ‘Business Before Pleasure’ Method, our mornings are more smooth and less hectic now. And, yes–most mornings my guys get to do what they want to do before leaving the house.

By the way, just saying the phrase ‘Business Before Pleasure’ drives my 7 year old crazy. But, better it drive him crazy for a fleeting moment than have Mommy crazy the whole morning!

Update: I originally wrote this blog post when my kids were younger. They’re now 13 and 9 (!?!) and I still use this ‘secret’ in the morning. And, yes it still drives them crazy…


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Categories: Back-to-School, Organzing Kids

5 responses to “Morning Routine Secret Weapon: How I Get Two Kids Out of the House on Time”

  1. Hi, Stacey, I LOVE this tip and the catchphrase is easy and awesome, too! I plan to use it beginning tomorrow in preparation for our quickly-approaching first day of school and our “new” routine. Thank you so much! :)Robin

  2. Thanks for stopping by, Robin!

    I’m going to reacquaint my kids with the catch phase and start using in next week when they go back to school. Hope it works well for both of us!

  3. Your kids might not like the phrase now, but it will surely serve well them throughout their lives!

  4. There is no rule book when we become parents, so finding what works is as individualized as our kids are. I love how you figured out the secret sauce to make your morning go more smoothly with the kids. And while they might not like the phrase, it sure sounds like they have learned to prioritize and get the big rocks in first.

    While I don’t recall using a particular phrase, I remember doing something similar for after school time. When the kids came home, they had a short break to have a snack and share what they wanted to share with me about their day. Then it was homework time and prepping for the following day. Once that was done, their time was theirs to do what they wanted- play, relax, read, do art, see friends, or whatever else they liked. They got in the habit of working than playing. As young adults, they continued with this habit. They work hard and play hard.

  5. Seana Turner says:

    I think having a familiar phrase can snap kids into attention and be super helpful. I tell parents, if you have trouble getting the kids to go back upstairs to brush teeth after breakfast, they can brush them before they come down. Or, keep some toothbrushes in a downstairs bathroom so you don’t lose them to getting distracted in their rooms.

    These tips are so important because nobody loves feeling rushed and late every morning!

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