1. Before everyone else starts their day, schedule a little bit of “me” time! This can be a simple 10-15 minutes before everyone else wakes up where you can read, meditate, exercise, write out the to-dos for the day, or do anything that helps clear your mind and prepare for the day.

2. Plan out breakfast and outfits the night before! This will help combat any outfit stress that we all know can happen in the morning. For the littles in your house, you can even have them practice picking out their own outfits the night before (with a little help, of course). This helps them develop a valuable life skill, boost their self-esteem, acquire or hone in on their decision-making skills, gives them an outlet for creativity, and allows them to use their imagination. For breakfast, deciding what choices you want to give your children the night before can help alleviate some of the stress that comes with breakfast time.

3. Have lots of reminders! These reminders can be simple things, like clocks and schedules around the house so they can work on keeping track of their own time or having specific reminder cards. You can put these by their backpacks, next to their clothes, or even on the front door for them to see as they walk out of the house. Some ideas for what to put on the reminder cards could be “Don’t forget your lunch” or, in the colder months, “Don’t forget your boots and gloves.” These can help your children learn to be independent and can help save you a headache later.

4. Have dinner as a family as much as possible! Dieticians, child development specialists and doctors all agree that having meals together as a family can benefit everyone in the family. Each family has its own reasons for choosing to do family dinners. Some families use it as a way to teach table manners, others use it as a way to communicate with each other. It also helps control portion sizes and teaches children what types of foods they should see on their plates. Many families also find that eating together helps them handle the stresses and hassles of their daily life.

5. Read aloud to your child every night! There are so many benefits to reading aloud to your child. Not only does it give your time to bond, but it also allows you to be fully present with your child. It is a great activity to do before bedtime because it also is a calming activity. The benefits you will see in your child are significant, as well. Reading aloud increases a child’s vocabulary. It improves their listening and reading skills and, oftentimes, results in greater reading comprehension throughout the child’s whole life. The benefits of reading aloud to your child every night are unmatched!

No matter how you create your routine, we hope you find the best fit for your family so that you can make this school year a great one!