5 CLEVER HACKS TO SIMPLIFY ANY FAMILY ' S MORNING ROUTINE !
etting the family out the door on time every morning is no small feat . Seemingly simple tasks like getting dressed , packing backpacks and making breakfast can quickly turn into chaos . Before you know it , you ’ re running late and the kids haven ’ t even eaten as you dash to the car .
Stop dreading the stressful start to the day and start taking control of your mornings . A few simple tips and tricks will turn the morning craze into smooth sailing . Plus , when you have a stress-free start , the rest of the day just seems to go better .
SELECT A WEEK ’ S WORTH OF CLOTHES SUNDAY NIGHT .
Instead of choosing outfits the night prior , supersize your time-saving efforts by doing this task just once on Sunday night . Involve kids in selecting their clothes for the week so they feel empowered in their choices . Then hang entire outfits in the closet or stack in one drawer dedicated to weekday wear . When mornings come , kids know exactly where to find the day ’ s duds . Bonus : you don ’ t have to worry about midweek laundry .
CREATE A ROUTINE AND SET ALARMS .
Create a morning routine and stick to it . For example , kids wake at 7 a . m ., eat breakfast at 7:15 a . m ., get dressed and ready at 7:30 a . m ., then out the door by 8 a . m . And if the kids need to share a bathroom , set a daily bathroom schedule with alarms to keep kids on track and avoid arguments in the morning .
GET READY BEFORE WAKING UP THE KIDS .
Trying to ready yourself for the day while helping the kids is a recipe for disaster . This is why waking before the rest of the family really makes mornings happier . Try getting up 30 minutes before the kids so you have time to get ready and enjoy a cup of coffee . You ’ ll be fully awake ,
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much happier and can focus on helping the kids stay on-task . CREATE MORNING RULES .
Just like you don ’ t let kids eat dessert before dinner to ensure they eat well , set rules for the morning to keep things moving . For example , no TV until all morning tasks are completed . For teens , smartphones and other mobile devices must remain on the kitchen table until they are ready to go .
SUNDAYS = MEAL PREP .
Make a week ’ s worth of PB & Js on Sunday and put them in the freezer . This way lunch items are ready to go and the sandwiches will be thawed and ready to eat by lunchtime . For breakfast , make it easy for kids by setting out shelf-stable items they can make themselves . New Jif ( R ) Peanut Butter and Naturally Flavored Cinnamon Spread keeps mornings interesting . Set out a jar by a loaf of bread and kids can quickly make a tasty sandwich they ’ ll devour . Learn more at jif . com .
22 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2018