Begin your day on a positive note

Prepare for tomorrow morning the night before.

• Set the table and know what you are going to have for breakfast.
• Pack lunches with the non-perishable items. This way, you only need to add perishable items in the morning. Make sandwiches and store them in the refrigerator—add lettuce in the morning.
• Make a checklist for the next day; include appointments and items you need (cleaning, library books, bank deposits).
• Lay out your clothes and accessories the night before, and ask kids to do the same. For children who like to decide in the morning, make decisions easier by hanging all school clothes in one area of the closet.
• Check the weather report to see if you and/or the kids need rain gear, coats, hats, gloves, etc. Put them by the door.
• Have kids load their backpacks before bed.
• Establish a specific place for keys, glasses, purse and/or briefcase.
• Purchase an alarm clock for each child; make them responsible for their own schedules.
• Make a rotating schedule for bathroom use. Put a clock in the bathroom so everyone knows when their time is up.
• Have teenage girls get up 15 minutes earlier than younger siblings if they need extra time in the bathroom. Put a makeup mirror in girls’ bedrooms.
• Create a morning chore chart your kids can follow. This way, they won’t argue over whose turn it is to feed the dog or take out the garbage. Post the chart at child eye level on the refrigerator or on a kitchen bulletin board.
• Eliminate distractions. Don’t turn on the TV unless a child needs to watch a news report for class. Allow playtime only after a child is dressed and ready for the day.
• Make a Sunshine Jar for young children who move slowly in the morning. Drop a quarter in the jar each day they make progress toward adhering to the family schedule. Let them spend their money on a treat at the end of the week.