Fighting your way through the morning rush at home

— September 1, 2016

September + the kids = back to school, and back to the mad rush of getting everyone up, dressed, fed and out the front door on time each morning. Wish we were still in the dog days of summer? Don’t worry, you’ll soon be back in the swing of things, and here’s a few helpful hints to help you along the way.

Get enough sleep

Even the simplest of tasks seem like a chore when you haven’t had enough sleep. Making sure you and the kids get the right amount of shut eye is the first step towards making your mornings more bearable.

Choose the next day’s clothes the night before

Discussing and picking out the following days attire circumvents the morning discussion on clothing or the eternal costume changes that can take up so much time.

Get up early

If you’re getting enough sleep, you’ll find it easier to get up early enough to ensure the morning rush isn’t a mad, stressful dash for the door.

No TV

You don’t need the added distraction of the tube every morning, so don’t even switch it on. Anyway, experts say we all watch too much TV, so nixing it in the AM is good for us.

Make your morning routine a game

If you have younger children at home, making the morning routine into a game can have a dramatic effect on improving the morning rush. Make a chart of all the tasks and stick it on the fridge. Buy some colored stars and let the kids mark their progress through the tasks each morning. Completed charts earn a weekend treat.

Be happy

If you’re not a morning person, raising a smile first thing may not be your cup of tea. But if you can turn your scowl into a grin, you’ll see rays of sunshine all over the house in return.

Eat breakfast

Whatever changes in the news about what we should or should not be eating, one thing has never changed—breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not sure what to serve for breakfast that’s quick but healthy? Try these breakfast favourites:

Oatmeal—but not the instant packets. Buy the larger grains—they have less sodium
Poached or soft-boiled eggs and toast
Yogurt topped with fruit and nuts
Leftovers—Nowadays, last night’s dinner is fair game for breakfast, too

Put these helpful hints to work and your stormy mornings will soon be a breeze. Remember good days always start out on the right foot.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/breakfast.html

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1812420,00.html