Mornings are usually a little chaotic around our house. I have one child who bounds out of bed, ready to begin the day and another who needs a little time to herself. Before I can even get both girls on the same page, they are moving in different directions, finding other tasks more important than leaving the house on time.
I decided to use the summer to create a detailed plan for our days from start to finish, hoping to cut any pitfalls off at the pass.
Now that we are heading into our fourth week of school, I thought I would share our new back-to-school routine and how my family is thriving.
Morning Routine
New this year: my daughter’s Mella Little Hippo alarm clock. This has been the best part about our new routine. It gives my daughter the opportunity to be responsible for getting herself up and ready for the day. We placed it across the room, so she would have to get out of bed in order to shut it off. Once she turns her alarm off, she has a four-step process to complete before coming out to breakfast.
Four Step Process
The steps are on a small magnetic board, hanging on the back of her bedroom door. After she completes each task, she moves the magnet to the done space.
- Make Bed
- Use Restroom
- Brush Teeth
- Get Dressed
My oldest has a four-shelf organizer hanging on the back of her bedroom door. Every Sunday we fill it with outfits, socks, and hair accessories for the week. The shelf organizer makes getting dressed in the morning a breeze!
After School Routine
Once we walk in the door, my daughter checks and hangs up her book bag. Next, she empties her lunch box while I prepare a healthy snack. After a summer filled with sugary treats, I am pretty strict about this. The girls can choose from an array of fruits and vegetables. I have made fruit smoothies, frozen fruit cups, etc.
Next, she writes in her Kids 3 Minute Gratitude Journal. True to its title, it only takes three minutes to complete. Plus, its the perfect way for me to learn about her day without having to bombard her with questions the moment I see her.
Then, I let her run off and play. Shortly before dinner, she looks at her chore chart in the kitchen for her task to complete. Once she completes her chore, we eat dinner, the girls have a bath, a sweet snack, read one book, and then it’s lights out.
Weekends
On the weekend our daughter still uses her alarm clock to get up within 30-45 minutes of her regular school week. This helps our family to maintain a consistent schedule.
I couldn’t be happier with our new back to school routine! It has created peace in our home as we move through the day. This routine gives us time to actually talk with one another each morning, instead of me just barking commands all morning.
Do you have a back to school routine that you love? I would love to hear all about it!
