The early morning exit can be total chaos sometimes – we’ve all been there. Everyone’s leaving at once, no one knows where their keys are, the coats aren’t where they ought to be, we’re all tripping over each other to sort ourselves out and get out the door…
A little bit of preparation and planning can go a long way in taking the stress out of getting ready each morning. While it won’t guarantee a perfect day, it feels good when everyone can leave the house in the morning on a positive note.
One way of organising the mass exodus is
supplying each family member with a cubby hole or a basket near the door. This way they can come in, leave their keys and other essential items in one place, then the morning evacuation will be a little more organised.
Ensuring coats are hung up in the same place each evening will also help, once family members get used to the routine of leaving keys in their cubby hole, hanging coats and other outerwear in the same spot once they come in this will reduce the traffic bottleneck at the front door each morning.
It can be helpful to prepare as much as possible the night before. Try creating a To Do list
- choose outfits
- set the breakfast table
- get school bags ready
- pack lunches
All family members should have their own alarm clock, set the alarm 10 minutes earlier to avoid morning rush.
All family members should make their own bed when they get up, it doesn’t need to be perfect but it builds a sense of routine and responsibility. Click here to read more advice on getting the kids to clean up after themselves.
It’s easy to lose our temper when everything around us is chaotic, but shouting is ineffective and not a great way to start the day. If you feel your temperature rising, take a step away, a few deep breaths and think how you can cleverly turn your kids round and get the morning back on track?
Make sure everyone clears up after themselves once breakfast is eaten, so dishes are in the sink or dishwasher and table is wiped down. This gets everyone involved in the clean-up.
For more invaluable advice on maximising family time, click here
