The Easy Trick To Keep Your Toddler From Wreaking Havoc On The Morning Routine

Mornings with small children are hard, especially if you're running on little to no sleep, have more than one kiddo to get out the door, or have a busy morning ahead filled with tasks. But one helpful trick to keep everyone focused is to limit all possible distractions. This means in the rooms that are part of your morning prep — bathrooms, kitchens, mudrooms — you should clear out any toys, electronics, screens, and remotes. Of course, this might be easier said than done. Even if you tidy up as much as possible, your little ones can still find ways to be playful while you're trying to stay organized — but the pay-off is worth the effort. 

Doing an evening reset to get a head start on your morning tasks can help majorly, and this is a great time to put away distracting items. You can also create a mini schedule for everyone to follow to help them focus. For little ones, this can be an image-based checklist or visual sticker chart with all the things they need to do to start the day. If you have strict rules in place until everyone is dressed and ready, you can reward them with some playtime before you leave. In other words, because your morning routine has been accomplished, items like tablets and toys are no longer distractions. This system emphasizes good behavior and helps introduce your little ones to early concepts of time management.

However, this approach comes with one caveat. If you find your child is prone to meltdowns after screentime, keep TV and tablets as an afternoon or weekend reward. In the morning, playtime rewards are best — think physical toys, picture books, or coloring sheets.

If you're used to pushing through your mornings in a state of chaos, introducing a new routine might seem insurmountable. As with all new habits, the key is to start small and keep things manageable. First, emphasize the importance of their participation in tidying up before bedtime. Even if your little ones don't do everything themselves, this can help set the expectation that in the morning, all their toys will be out of sight — and, if you're lucky, out of mind. 

As a general rule of thumb, the best way to solve a problem is to first identify the source. Often, redirection can be an excellent alternative to distraction, but you need to figure out the main source of their distraction. If your little ones turn into high-energy (yet lovable) monster babies once they're up and moving, think about what generally helps them calm down. If that's reading, consider introducing a morning story time while they eat their breakfast to help them stay focused and grounded.

On the other hand, some kids also do best when they feel included in the plan — and they can get overwhelmed and distracted when they're not. If this is your child, try using a timer to help them focus, and set it for each activity on their list, giving them control over the order. Or, if your biggest delays happen because your toddler prefers to make their own decisions, create decision tree scenarios. Avoid asking open-ended questions, and instead offer them clear choices — think cereal or toast, red socks or blue socks, or a dress or jeans.