MORNING ROUTINE
Our mornings are usually like groundhog day when the kids are at school. However, there are so many benefits of having a routine in place:
- Having a regular and consistent routine ensures that I get the kids out the door with everything they need, clean clothes, lunches, notes for school
- When we have a hectic morning, our routine makes me feel less stressed as I know what needs to be done
- As your children grow they will learn the routine and want to help (my kids are currently at this stage and I am LOVING it), which is a perfect way for them to learn about responsibility
- If I go out for the day I enjoy coming home to a tidy house
My morning routine
This is morning routine I had when the kids were all in primary school. Now that my kids are older (all in high schoolnow) I have adjusted it slightly, they wake themselves up, I make lunches the night before and I make myself presentable before breakfast.
6.40am – wake up and have a shower
6.55am – make my bed
7.00am – wake up kids
7.05am – kids make their own breakfast
7.10am – start preparing lunches for kids and hubby (lunchbox ideas here)
7.20am – kids unpack dishwasher
7.30am – kids start their morning routine
7.30am – put away dishes washed the night prior, pack dishwasher, wipe benches
7.40am – eat breakfast and relax for 10 minutes, I check my to-do list and calendar
7.50am – brush and style (braids or ponytails) girls hair, ideas here
8.00am – put washing on the line if I didn’t do the night before
8.10am – time to get myself presentable for the day (hair and a little make-up)
8.25am – give the kids countdown 5 minutes till we leave
8.30am – in car driving to school drop off
8.40am – go to the gym or home, put the kettle on, while kettle boiling wipe over kids bathroom basin
8.45am – My day begins, either doing housework, working on the blog, running errands or catching up with friends
Create your morning routine
Use the blank morning routine list printable to create your own routine. Every family is different so please consider your schedule, the help of a partner and the ages of your kids when creating your morning routine.
- Be realistic with the time you have available
- Can you partner help with morning tasks?
- The ages of your children
- Add into your routine the areas that you know you/your family need help with eg. time for chores for the kids, putting dirty clothes into the laundry, washing dishes, preparing for the evening meal in the morning
You may also enjoy this post on creating a stress free school morning routine.
Create a morning routine for the kids
This is my kids morning routine chart pictured below, they started using this chart when they were in kindy (aged 3). This promptly removed the chaos out of our mornings and was a great visual reminder for the kids to know what they needed to do each morning.
I have tasks in a specific order, eg brush teeth before uniform/clothes goes on so they don’t get toothpaste splatter over their clean uniform (as kids do). I also like them having their socks on so when it’s time to go all they need to do is put on shoes not spend an extra 5 minutes to put socks on.
This chart is available in my shop along with the option to create personalised charts. View range of kids routine charts here.
[wlchecklist name=’PreTask3Createamorningroutineforkids’]
DOWNLOAD
Print the morning routine lists to help you create your own morning routine that suits you and your family.
- MORNING ROUTINE – file behind ‘Routines’ divider – click to download.
- BLANK MORNING ROUTINE – file behind ‘Routines’ divider – click to download.
270 comments
Oh man… Unloading the dishwasher at 0430 before work? ? I am going to trust you on this, so I will leave it on my list and see how it works for me for the challenge. The husband is always complaining that there are dishes in the kitchen so this might just be the trick.
Give it a go, if it doesn’t work, perhaps you may need to unload it the night before. However if you unload it in the afternoon there is chance that dirty dishes being left on the bench all day, adding to mess.
Hi Kat I’m trying to print out Pre-Challenge Task wk 3 but it says “oops this content is for members only.” I’m signed in so not sure what to do, thanks.
Hi Jasmin, have you managed to download it yet? Just a thought, I checked your account and access should be fine, can you log out of your account and back in and let me know how you go? email me challenge@theorganisedhousewife.com.au if you have problems 🙂
Hi Kat I tried again and all good, thank you. Looking forward to getting clean and organised xx
Have written a copy of my routine out in blue and plan to write any changes needed in red so i can reassess what is working and what it not.
I have downloaded the kids charts and put on the fridge. I will laminate later but fear getting side tracked if I do it now 🙂
That’s a great idea different coloured pens!
I like this idea too! I used pencil so i can make changes. One week in though and im going well
That’s fantastic feedback Kirra so pleased your routine is working well for you!!
Love this idea
It sorts out my dilemma
Hopefully this will help you create a great routine and system in your home 🙂
Morning routines created for the kids. Hope they follow them!
We get up early, as it is, to make it to school by 0725, so there isn’t as much time as I’d like for morning chores.
Sounds like you really need to concentrate on a good evening routine that will help you in your mornings 🙂
Morning routine done! See how we go lol
Let me know how you go Kirra and remember to make changes if you feel it’s not working for you 🙂
Morning routine should be pretty easy as we don’t have children and my husband is ‘morning’ self sufficient. I leave at 5.30am for the gym and then work and don’t return until 5pm. Looking forward to tips of things to do in the morning to make evening life easier!!
LOL, love that hubby is ‘morning’ self sufficient, how is he in the afternoons?? 🙂
Lol – totally dependent!!!!
The morning routine shouldn’t be difficult as I really only have to look after myself. But I do waste time the mornings I’d not go to wor, so trying to establish new routines. Would love to hear from other mums who work outside the home too.
That’s a great question Anita, I’ve just asked it on The Organised Housewife facebook page, see what other mums share here: https://www.facebook.com/organisedhousewife/posts/1042118705822078
Morning routine done, however am due to have a baby on Thursday so will have to see how it will all work
oh how exciting for you Kirsty! My biggest tip for you if you have time cook up a few dinner and put them in your freezer. Dinners like shepherd pie, or spaghetti bolognese are great. Making a big batch of bolognese is a great idea, it can be had on toast, with spaghetti, or stir through cooked pasta topped with cheese as a pasta bake. I’ll share a post on The Organised Housewife facebook page to links to some recipes later this morning for you.
Done!
Your on a roll Kim, how did you go with Task 4 and 5 have you found time to complete them too??
I had printed off some routines for the kids a few weeks ago, and for myself as well. The kids routines went up on the pantry door, my ones ended up in one of the piles of paperwork on the kitchen benchtop!!! No excuses now, I need to be accountable too!
That’s right get them out and put them on the pantry door with the kids, and hopefully if your partner has free time they can help you too being that your routine is in site for all the family to see.