Save time getting the kids ready in the morning

Make sure your kids get enough sleep

When your child gets enough sleep, they are more likely to wake up cheerful, energetic, and raring to go. If you have to drag your child out of bed every morning, they might need an earlier night.   

Get up earlier

Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier (and get up!). It’s amazing the difference an extra 15 minutes in a morning can make.  

Have a designated spot for all their stuff

If kids know where to put their backpacks, jumpers, and shoes as soon as they get home, they (or you!) won't have to rush around the next morning trying to find everything.  

Be prepared  

• Make school lunches the night before and have them ready in the lunchboxes in the fridge ready to pop into their bags in the morning.
• Look at the school timetable to see if they need sports gear for the next day and get everything ready.
• Check their homework diary regularly to give them plenty of time to complete any homework or projects, so it’s not a mad rush the night before or even in the morning.  
• Have showers or baths in the evening.  
• Get the kids to lay out their uniform, shoes, and anything else they may need the next day.  

Keep breakfast simple

Opt for quick and nutritious options such as wholegrain cereals, fruit and yoghurt.  

Schedule it

Think about having a weekly schedule with reminders for each of your children, such as when they need their reading books, sports clothes, things for show and tell, and so on. Keep it somewhere everyone can see it.

Stay calm!

Give your children calm, clear instructions about what you want them to do. You might need to remind younger children more often - simple ‘to do’ checklists, even with pictures, can help.

Get your kids to do as much for themselves as they can – such as putting their lunchboxes in their bags and laying out their clothes the night before.

Remove distractions

Avoid turning on the TV in the morning and discourage portable devices. You could even have a family rule of no screen time in a morning (unless they can get ready super quickly and then it could be a special reward).  

Make it fun

Turn the morning routine into a game – for example, set a timer and see who can get ready the fastest. For most siblings, winning will be the only reward they need!  

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