Practical tips and tools to make the morning routine easier

Learning to carry out a series of morning habits on autopilot is, however, a real challenge for many little ones. It's probably one of the first times they'll have to show this much self-discipline. They'll have to resign themselves to saying no to some of the pleasures of the moment in order to be ready on time; that's a big sacrifice for these little beings in perpetual search of entertainment. It will also require them to sharpen their sense of organization and time management. Fortunately, Les Belles Combines created the routine bracelet, a visual cue par excellence to help your child take ownership of their routine.

Here are a few tips to help your kids become champions of getting ready in the morning without too many squabbles.

Start small and celebrate progress

The ideal is to start early and not wait until kindergarten to put the beginnings of a routine in place. From a very young age, your child can develop the habit of doing a few small things so they gradually take on the steps of the morning routine. For example, they can bring their bowl back to the counter every morning and put away the cereal box. They can fetch the hairbrush so you can brush their hair. They can finish making the bed by arranging their pillow, stuffed animals and cushions. Gradually, as they get older, add new habits until the routine is complete. That way, by the time they start kindergarten, they'll only have a few new steps to add to their routine, so the load won't seem as heavy. For example, you could decide to put just one charm on your little guy's routine bracelet from the age of three, then gradually add each step over time. At first, ask him to do it without expecting results, but take every opportunity to point out his progress.

Build the routine with your child

Here at our house, there are almost as many different routines as there are kids. Simone makes her bed and gets dressed after eating breakfast, otherwise she'd head off to school every day with a shirt stained with jam and peanut butter. Her big brothers, on the other hand, get dressed the minute they jump out of bed. Louis likes to take his time. Laurier packs his bag and his lunch box while his toast is in the toaster so he has more time to play before leaving for school. In short, talk with your child about the pace that would suit them and arrange the charms in the order that works for them on their bracelet. Since you'll have taken the trouble to ask their opinion, they'll feel less like something is being imposed on them and suffer from it.

Maximize good moods, health and well-being

Saying no to the urge to play in order to get through a routine can feel frustrating for a child. Whenever possible, a morning routine should let us build in habits that put us in a good mood and maximize our energy and well-being for the day ahead. Rather than grumbling or arguing with your kids about their inability to be ready on time, offer them alternatives that fit their needs. For example, you could suggest that a child who wants to play and is never ready on time get up 20 minutes earlier to enjoy a longer stretch of playtime in the morning. For one who struggles to get up at the appointed time, you can suggest doing one step of the routine the night before and gaining ten or fifteen minutes of sleep. Feeling understood in this way, your child will be more willing to go along with the rest.

To make the morning routine even easier, check out our small routine charts and our Petites Séquences stickers!

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