It’s a fact of life – some of us aren’t early birds, early risers or any other name they’ve got for morning people! However, it’s vital that we do morning in the right way! The start of the day is an essential time for little ones and big ones alike – setting the rest up for success or failure. Here are our tips for making mornings your family’s favourite time of day (even for all you sleepyheads!)
Start your morning the night before!
This is the golden rule of having a good morning. If you have a good night’s rest, the whole transition from sleeping to waking is much smoother. Getting the kids ready for bed all comes down to one thing, and unfortunately, it’s mild bribery! You should make sure they get something they like once they are ready for bed. This could be a story before bedtime, a sing-along song or a cuddle with mum or dad. You should be aiming to have their heads on the pillow and their eyes closed according to the following sleeping guidelines:
- Really little ones (infants): about 15 hours
- Walking little ones (toddlers): at least 12 hours
- Walking, talking little ones (schoolers): at least 10 hours
- Big ones (parents): at least 7 hours
If you’re always ready, you don’t have to get ready
With eyes half open and the brain half-working, it can be nigh on impossible to remember what needs to be done in the morning. That’s why pre-morning-prep is absolutely essential to feeling on top of the morning routine! Anything you can do once you’ve got the kids off to sleep is beneficial. Things like laying the table for breakfast, laying out clothes for the little ones and making sure school bags are packed will make a huge difference. We say – the less you have to remember in the morning, the better.
Special time for everyone!
This is can be one of the trickier things to fit into the morning, but it’s also one of the most important. Giving special time to everyone is a wonderful way of making sure that everyone starts their day off, right! So, try to take up to five minutes with each family member in the morning. You can wake your little one up gently with a few minutes cuddle-time in the morning or you could have a morning song to help them get dressed. As for the bigger ones, you can read together before the kids get up or spend a couple of minutes chatting over a cup of your favourite morning brew!
The morning is the most important part of the day, setting the day off for the whole family. Whilst it might not feel like it at times, the start of a new day with your family is a blessing. It can be even more of a blessing if you prepare for it! Stick to our tips above and you’ll be on the right track!