Need to get your kids in the back to school mode? Try this basic morning routine for school!
General Mills sponsored this post, but the opinions are my own.
In an effort to make mornings easier as we head back to school after a break, I’ve partnered with General Mills to share our morning routine for school. These tips are based on our experiences and all thoughts and opinions are my own but they’ve definitely helped our mornings go a bit smoother these days!
MY LATEST VIDEOSEasy Morning Routine for School
Winter break is over which means it’s time to put a back to school morning routine in place. I’m not really a morning person and neither is Weston. So the only way we make it through mornings is with a solid action plan to get things done and get out the door.
Carrigan is a bit more of a morning person but having a routine helps make things go smoother on her school days too.
Making mornings easier is all about having a morning routine for school kids and getting them actively involved.
By focusing on a few simple things you can hop right into a successful winter morning routine for school days!
1. Sleep is Where Mornings Start
One of the best ways to make sure your morning routine for school goes smoothly is to start the night before. Getting enough sleep (you and the kids) can mean the difference between a good morning and a great morning. Yes, I’m being optimistic about having good mornings as we head back to school.
So take a look at your sleep routines for both you and your kids as part of your back to school morning routine. If everyone is getting enough sleep, the morning will go more smoothly
2. ‘Twas the Night Before
Even before I had kids, I was all about doing as much as I could the night before. I don’t want to have to wake up earlier than is absolutely necessary. It’s proof that I’m not a morning person and Weston is the same way.
The key to morning success when you’re not a fan of getting up early is to prep the night before. It’s as simple as that.
Some of the things I get ready the night before include:
- lunches
- clothes (be sure to plan for shoes too!)
- backpacks
Those are the three major players in my morning routine for school kids. They don’t take much time to cross off my to-do list, but it’s time I then don’t need to account for in the morning.
3. Add 10 Minutes
I know I just said I don’t want to get up early. It’s the truth. I don’t want to have to get up earlier in the morning than I really need to get up.
But the mornings when I wake up even five or ten minutes before my kids are the ones that seem to be the easiest. So I recommend building an extra ten minutes into your morning routine for school checklist.
It gives you time to get yourself ready on your own, prep anything you might have missed, and deal with anything that might unexpectedly come up.
4. Make a Connection
It can be so easy to just focus on items on your morning routine for school checklist that relate to getting ready and out the door. But life is so busy as it is. So I encourage everyone to spend a few moments connecting with your kids before you get the day started.
It only takes a few minutes but for a smooth routine, it’s important to account for them. There are some simple ways to connect with your kids before they even get out of bed:
- A kiss good morning
- Snuggle time
- Morning conversation
- Sing a song
- Back rub
You can even start your morning routine for school together to make that connection. Make the bed together or sit together while you brush your child’s hair.
Then you can kick the morning routine into high gear and get everything checked off the list before you head out the door!
5. Morning Routine Chart for Success
Getting the kids involved in with a morning routine chart or checklist. You can find some cute printables on Pinterest or just keep it simple.
Type up a list of the action items your kids need to check off before they leave for school in the morning. Some basics that are on our list include:
- Brush teeth
- Brush hair
- Wash face
- Get dressed
- Eat Breakfast
- Put shoes on
- Get backpack/lunchbox
Then head out the door to the bus or the car to get to school!
Giving your kids a visual morning routine chart is a great way to hand over some responsibility for getting out the door in the morning. It helps them develop independence and frees you up to get yourself ready, take care of unexpected hiccups, or enjoy breakfast with your kids!
6. Kid Friendly Breakfast
The best approach to breakfast is something everyone can do on their own. Weston is finally old enough to be able to pour his own bowl of cereal. He’s usually willing to help his sister out to.
So cereal is one of our go-to school day breakfast options. It’s easy and we always have a few boxes in the pantry so the kids can choose something that appeals to them on any given morning. Giving them choices usually means we have fewer arguments.
Right now, our whole family is loving the new Peanut Butter Chocolate Blasted Shreds from General Mills.
I picked it up in the cereal aisle at Walmart when I was doing our grocery shopping and I wish I’d grabbed a second box! All three generations are eating it for breakfast. Carrigan and Grambo both love it in the evening as a little snack, too!
Oh, and if you’re in a hurry, General Mills Peanut Butter Chocolate Blasted Shreds are great to take with you. Put some in a baggie or a snack cup and go!
Banana Nut Cheerios is another great variety from General Mills that works great in the morning!
The great cereal varieties that General Mills offers make breakfast easy around our house. That’s why it’s a brand that you can find in our pantry during the school year!
Some other easy breakfast ideas include:
- Granola bars
- Fruit
- Yogurt
- Cheese and Crackers
- Hard Boiled Eggs
7. Work Your Negotiation Skills & Rewards
Don’t be afraid to use negotiation and rewards to make your morning routine go smoothly. You can use the checklist to let your kids earn rewards for getting everything done each morning.
On mornings that aren’t going as well as you’d like, don’t be afraid to offer a reward in exchange for your kids getting things done. I’ve been known to offer some tablet time in exchange for the kids getting their shoes on!
8. Play a Little Music
I want my kids to head off to school in a good mood. Some days that seems to come naturally while other mornings are a bit more challenging! I find that putting on some of our favorite songs and dancing around for a few minutes is a great way to turn things around if you find everyone is struggling a bit.
My trick is to let the grumpiest one choose the song! Then have a morning dance party!
9. Stay Calm and Roll with the Punches
But the one thing that I’ve learned might be the most important thing in our back to school morning routine is how I handle it.
My mood has a huge impact on my kids. This is really true in the morning when they’re just starting their day. If I’m in a bad mood or yell, there is no way my kids are going to get out the door in a good mood.
Once I accepted that fact, I realized just how important it is for me to stay calm and be patient in the morning. Building in extra time has been a huge help in this area! So just remember that your mood affects their moods!
So let’s keep them smiling!
Getting Back Into the School Routine
Whether you’re heading back to school after summer break or the shorter winter break, the most important thing to remember about your morning routine for school is that it has to work for your family.
Just follow these easy steps:
- Make sure everyone is getting enough sleep.
- Prep the night before.
- Wake up earlier.
- Connect with your kids.
- Use a morning routine chart or checklist.
- Have kid-friendly breakfast options like the new General Mills cereals at Walmart
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
- Lighten the mood with music.
- Stay calm.
You can get even more back to school ideas from us too!
Don’t worry about what other families might do in the morning. Keep it simple, give yourself enough time, and do what works for your family!
Shop for these and other General Mills cereals at Walmart and on Walmart.com! And while you’re at it if you buy 5 items, scan your receipt with the Box Tops Bonus App and earn 50 Bonus Box Tops! Help earn cash for your kid’s school!
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