First, let’s evaluate the situation. Take two separate scenarios and soon you will see how a few little changes can make a big difference. For example, if you kids were big Disney World fans and they needed to get up at 7:00 am for a family vacation to Disney World; do you think it would be a difficult getting them up as opposed to going to school? Probably not.
Obviously, not every day can be a trip to Disney, but with a few creative ideas, you can make it more exciting for your child to WANT to get up in the morning.
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Music is a great motivator and is one of the fastest ways to change your mood. Find music your child really gets into and let that be their morning alarm.
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Make it fun to wake up. Unfortunately, life can often take control of us, instead of us taking control of life. We all get busy and look for short cuts to balance all our responsibilities. There is always a cost and rushing in the morning can be one of them. Plan and make waking up an exciting event to a new day and new adventures and your kids will soon buy in too.
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Make breakfast meals nutritious and something your kids look forward to. Pancakes in specific shapes, maybe a treat once a week to one of the fast-food breakfast places, or a doughnut from their favorite restaurant along with healthy choices. Not only does this make them feel better all day, but it also teaches good habits for the future. Box cereals are easy, but very few of them are healthy.
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Clothes make a difference too. Getting your child a new backpack, shirt, dress, shoes etc. can get them excited to get up and go to school. How do you feel when you upgrade an accessory to something you really like or wanted? Kids are the same.
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Compliments and rewards go a long way too. The old saying, “What gets rewarded, gets repeated” goes a long way. Regardless of whether kids should get up when they are supposed to, giving a compliment or just saying, “I appreciate you getting up in a timely manner” can go a long way! Second, this is a good way to help your kids build self-discipline. Giving compliments is a great first step.
Good luck and don’t forget we love feedback. Let us know if any of these tips help your morning routines.