The Importance Of A Good Morning Routine Before School

Today we want to remind you of the importance of having a morning routine before school. It’s a great way to start the day on the right track.

In the article below, we highlight some of the most common routines for the first hours of the morning, which have a significant impact on the rest of the day.

An alarm clock

At the beginning of the school year, you can buy your children an alarm clock. It is a good opportunity to give them new responsibilities, such as waking up on your own and getting ready on time.

Of course, this does not mean that you can forget them and let them take care of themselves completely. Most children still need a reminder (or more) before they actually get out of bed, but it is still a first step towards nurturing responsibility and independence.

During the first week that they use their new alarm clock, you as parents should be aware of how well they handle it. You still have to wake them up if they have turned off the alarm or forgotten to set the clock. You must also make sure that they get up, get dressed, eat breakfast and brush their teeth, etc.

When the children become more accustomed to the alarm clock ringing and have a fixed time on which they set it, you can let them sleep a little longer. You just need to make sure they have enough time to dress, eat, take their things and be ready to go to school.

Children who take the bus to school, you must make sure to get to the bus stop on time. If you drive them yourself, you have a little more flexibility in the morning.

Make the morning routine visible

Setting up your children’s morning routine somewhere in the house is a great way to get your kids on the right track. Below we offer some specific recommendations depending on age.

Young children (especially before they can read)

For young children, it is best to use pictures rather than a written list of tasks. It gives children a visual reminder of what they need to do, even if they can not read yet. After completing a task, they can look at their list and it makes it more fun and makes them feel like they are accomplishing something.

Below is a list of tips on photos for each activity:

• Dress – You can use pictures of pants, a sweater, socks, shoes, etc.
• Have breakfast – A picture of food.
• Brush your teeth  – You can use a picture of a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Things to bring to school – Here you can have a picture of a backpack, a fruit or whatever else your child brings to school every day. Just a tip – mornings can be much less hectic if the child packs the backpack the night before!

Older children who can read

For older children, you probably do not need to use pictures, but you can similarly hang a written list in several places around the house… in their bedroom, in the bathroom, on the refrigerator, on the front door, etc. That way they do not have to go back to the bedroom a million times to see which task comes next.

The importance of eating a healthy breakfast before school

Nutritionists and doctors agree on the importance and benefits of eating breakfast every morning. Breakfast gives children the energy they need after a long night of not eating anything (they have literally fasted). When children eat a good breakfast in the morning, they can concentrate better in school.

Of course, children sometimes do not feel like eating a big breakfast in the morning. In that case, parents need to find useful alternatives to ensure that their children get the nutrients they need. This is your chance to be creative and imaginative.

Creating and maintaining a good morning routine is of great importance to prepare children for a good day at school. Once you get started, it’s fun to follow a routine. In fact, the whole family will rely on this routine because it makes life so much easier.

Routines are always helpful. A morning routine helps your children learn how to get ready for school, in the end without even having to think about it. The routine becomes smoother and more automatic over time and eventually becomes part of your child’s everyday life.