Kids are adorable in their groggy state but when you’re trying to get everything done during the morning, it can be frustrating.
Need help? Let me show you how to wake those zombies by adding FUN in your daily morning routine.
First things first, this is a must: organize your mornings to make them less stressful. Done with that? Now we can proceed!
7 Fun Morning Routine Ideas Sluggish Kids Will Love
1. Bathroom baton. If your children share one bathroom, have them pass around a baton or large key (you can make your own props) to the next kid in line.
2. Morning wakey. Instead of using your booming voice to jolt ’em kids up, why not smother them in kisses or hum a made-up tune gently in their ear?
3. Early bird, early worm. Tomorrow’s worm that is! Have your children race to get out of bed. The prize? The winner gets to choose tomorrow’s breakfast. (Can you think of other prizes?)
4. Mad dash wake-up race. Continuing on the previous item, you’ll need alarm clocks that will go off simultaneously. Stand outside your children’s rooms and wait. The first one who touches Mommy wins.
The short sprint can kick away drowsiness from your kiddos.
For an added incentive, have the last person to rise do a chore. But don’t do this often since they might see chores as a form of punishment.
Note 1: Change the game mechanics if you have a mix of toddlers and school age kids. Bigger kids are usually faster so it may be unfair for the younger ones.
5. Morning checklist. The idea is from an article by About.com titled Top 10 Morning Madness Tips for Getting Kids up and Ready.
Create a checklist that details morning activities. Instead of using a pen to mark completed items, use laminated check marks, thumbs-up or whatever nifty idea you can think of.
The visuals helps give your children a sense of accomplishment.
6. Wordless Nagging. If your children find the previous item tedious, you can use printable morning routine cards instead. Put is somewhere they can see so you can give your vocal chords a rest.
7. Sticker Rewards. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book but far too important to exclude. Issue a sticker for every completed task. At the end of the week, give a prize for a job well done.
Note 2: No need to do all these everyday since kids will tire of them. Also, not everything on the list will work on your children. Find something they like, then use and build on it.
All moms know that with a bit of creativity and a lot of patience, a morning routine can be pleasant and enjoyable. Whenever fun is involved, there’s a better chance for your kiddos to get through their mornings smoother.
Agree?
Yami says
February 14, 2012 at 2:32 pmAny tip for sluggish mommy (like me)? 🙂
pehpot says
February 16, 2012 at 7:32 ambwhahaha ang hirap nyan mare!
Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms says
February 16, 2012 at 9:42 pmHaha, good topic to write about 😛
The Pepperrific Life says
February 15, 2012 at 6:56 amI love the wordless nagging! I know my vocal chords need a break every so often.
I guess, it also helps that the kids go to bed early, so they won’t wake up in zombie mode.
Thanks for these tips. They will come in handy next schoolyear, when my kid’s classes start at 620am! Imagine that…
Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms says
March 24, 2012 at 11:59 pmClasses that start at 6:20 am??? What?!
That’s way too early!!! Let me know if these work on your daughter, if not we can cook up more activities specially made for her.
mamawolfe says
February 15, 2012 at 10:48 pmGreat tips! Anne is always full of good advice…
Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms says
March 25, 2012 at 12:00 amHey Jennifer, glad you like it. I know your daughter’s a teenager so there won’t work on her anymore. And she probably gets up by herself 🙂
TyKes Mom says
February 15, 2012 at 11:11 pmThese are excellent tips! I remember, when I was a child, my mother got so fed up one Saturday morning when my sister would not get out of bed. So she grabbed her watering bucket, filled it and “watered” my sister from head to toe! That got her moving and has been a great story ever since!
Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms says
March 25, 2012 at 12:01 amHaha that’s a funny story. The most water I received was a few drops on the face I think. Nothing like your sister’s bed and bath! 🙂
Sarah says
February 15, 2012 at 11:15 pmI don’t have sluggish kids just yet, as my oldest is 3. BUT I am sluggish. haha Need some morning routines for mommy to get charging! 😉 Just kidding. Actually my 3 year old is a very good alarm. “Mommy get up!” (He whispers this in my ear, as my youngest son sleeps in our room). If I am not up in about 5 to 10, he will come back and use a more forceful whisper. haha Yes, he is affective. 🙂
Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms says
March 25, 2012 at 12:03 amChildren do make very good alarm clocks. I love the “forceful whispering”… my child just kisses and hugs me A LOT when he wants to wake me.
Sarah says
March 26, 2012 at 10:31 pmAww! I would LOVE hugs and kisses like that in the morning! I think my youngest will be more like that, as he already seems more cuddly. 🙂
Marina at My Busy Children says
February 17, 2012 at 11:20 pmLove the idea about morning checklist. I think it will really work for my preschooler
Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms says
March 25, 2012 at 12:03 amHi Marina! Let us know how it works for your kiddo.
Mom-Friday says
February 22, 2012 at 11:06 pmI often do the hugs and kisses ritual to wake them up 🙂
Anne @ GreenEggs&Moms says
March 25, 2012 at 12:04 amIt’s the best right? It really puts a smile on their grumpy and sleepy faces 🙂