Ways To Get Through A Difficult School Morning Without Making It Worse

Unfortunately, we all have days where getting our kids up and out the door for school (in a timely fashion) involves a forgotten item, more than one meltdown, tears, and a salty goodbye. While no one enjoys beginning their day like this, school mornings typically involve completing multiple tasks in a constrained period of time. This can make children feel anxious, sad, worried, and even angry. Fortunately, there are many effective strategies you can use to make school mornings a little less chaotic for your kids.

A solid starting place is the night before — a key time to help your children prepare for the next day. Check the weather so they can pick out their clothes ahead of time. Also, ensure any completed homework is tucked away safely in their backpacks, along with any out-of-the-ordinary items they may need to bring to school the next day. If you have some extra time, you might even pre-fill their water bottles and talk with them about what sounds good for breakfast. These small gestures give children more agency while helping them stay calm and better prepared when they wake up the next day.

Another way to minimize stress is to wake your kids earlier than normal. If you know your child has a hard time waking or likes to take their time eating breakfast, an earlier wake time can allow them to get ready at a more comfortable pace, which may, in turn, help regulate any heightened emotions.

Since school mornings are already stressful without negative emotions peppered into the mix, the best thing you can do for your kids is to wake up before they do. Give yourself at least 15 minutes to get settled. If your child wakes in a bad mood, don't overwhelm them by telling them all they have to do in a short period of time. Once they're fully awake, encourage them to handle small tasks one at a time, like getting dressed, eating breakfast, and brushing their hair.

Of the lessons we shouldn't teach young children, encouraging them to react intensely to minor setbacks is toward the top of the list. If your child is having a rough time moving through certain parts of the day, help them find effective coping strategies so they can eventually learn to build resilience over time. If you know mornings make your child anxious, make sure you set aside enough time to listen to their fears and be positive for them. If possible, you can leave any extra tasks like making their bed for later in the day.

That being said, make sure there is a space near the front of your home where your child can easily house their backpacks, shoes, and school items for optimal grab-and-go convenience. You can also try different ways of connecting with your child before they leave for the day, like developing your own special handshake or hug.