Tag Archives: routine

MINIMIZING MORNING MADNESS

It’s important to have effective morning routines so children get off to school without stress. Older children can help plan their routines.

Here are some specific ideas for minimizing morning madness on school days:

  • Prepare the night before. Make lunch, pack backpacks, and set out clothes.
  • Set up a launching pad—a place near the door for children’s backpacks, coats, shoes, hats and gloves so no time is wasted looking for these items.
  • Wake up at least half an hour before the kids. Shower, get dressed, have your coffee/breakfast, and be ready!
  • Have a reliable wake up system for the kids. An alarm clock or clock radio is good.
  • Stagger wake up times for the kids. Pre-teen and teenagers usually need more time to shower and groom.
  • Younger kids should bathe the night before to reduce bathroom congestion.
  • Have kids choose what they are wearing the night before. Limit choices and make sure everything is neat and clean.
  • Don’t rush the children! Make sure there is enough time to wash, dress, eat breakfast, comb hair and brush teeth. Start earlier if you need to.
  • Avoid turning on the TV. Kids can waste a lot of time watching TV or playing. These activities should be permitted only if they are completely ready for school.
  • Don’t skip breakfast! Hungry kids can’t concentrate in school.
  • Remind kids to use the bathroom just before leaving for school. Lots of kids don’t like to use the school bathroom.
  • Wish the kids a great day. Give them each a hug!

MINIMIZING MORNING MADNESS

It’s important to have effective morning routines so children get off to school without stress. Older children can help plan their routines.

Here are some specific ideas for minimizing morning madness on school days:

  • Prepare the night before. Make lunch, pack backpacks, and set out clothes.
  • Set up a launching pad—a place near the door for children’s backpacks, coats, shoes, hats and gloves so no time is wasted looking for these items.
  • Wake up at least half an hour before the kids. Shower, get dressed, have your coffee/breakfast, and be ready!
  • Have a reliable wake up system for the kids. An alarm clock or clock radio is good.
  • Stagger wake up times for the kids. Pre-teen and teenagers usually need more time to shower and groom.
  • Younger kids should bathe the night before to reduce bathroom congestion.
  • Have kids choose what they are wearing the night before. Limit choices and make sure everything is neat and clean.
  • Don’t rush the children! Make sure there is enough time to wash, dress, eat breakfast, comb hair and brush teeth. Start earlier if you need to.
  • Avoid turning on the TV. Kids can waste a lot of time watching TV or playing. These activities should be permitted only if they are completely ready for school.
  • Don’t skip breakfast! Hungry kids can’t concentrate in school.
  • Remind kids to use the bathroom just before leaving for school. Lots of kids don’t like to use the school bathroom.
  • Wish the kids a great day. Give them each a hug!

MINIMIZING MORNING MADNESS

It is important to have a good morning routine with your host kids on school days!  Here are some tips to help: 

  • Prepare the night before by making lunch, pack backpacks, and set out the clothes.
  • Set up a launching pad near the door for kids’ backpacks, coats, shoes, hats & gloves so no time is wasted looking for these items.
  • Wake up at least one hour before the kids, eat, have coffee and get dressed. BE READY!
  • Make sure you know how and when to wake up the kids.
  • Stagger wake up times if you can. Pre-teens and teenagers need more time in the morning to shower and get ready.
  • Younger kids should bathe the night before whenever possible.
  • Make sure the kids pick out what they are wearing the night before. Limit their choices, make sure everything is clean and ready to wear.
  • Do not rush kids. Make sure they have enough time to dress, wash, comb their hair, brush their teeth and eat breakfast!
  • Avoid turning on the TV. Kids waste a lot of time in the morning watching TV and playing.  These activities should be avoided and only saved if everything else is done!
  • Never let them skip breakfast. Hungry kids can’t concentrate in school.
  • Remind kids to use the bathroom just before leaving for school. Lots of kids don’t like to use the school bathroom.
  • Wish the kids a good day. Give them a hug!  Let them know you will be waiting for them when they get off the bus or at the school when they are done!

 

MINIMIZING MORNING MADNESS

It’s important to have effective morning routines so children get off to school without stress. Older children can help plan their routines.

Here are some specific ideas for minimizing morning madness on school days:

  • Prepare the night before. Make lunch, pack backpacks, and set out clothes.
  • Set up a launching pad—a place near the door for children’s backpacks, coats, shoes, hats and gloves so no time is wasted looking for these items.
  • Wake up at least half an hour before the kids. Shower, get dressed, have your coffee/breakfast, and be ready!
  • Have a reliable wake up system for the kids. An alarm clock or clock radio is good.
  • Stagger wake up times for the kids. Pre-teen and teenagers usually need more time to shower and groom.
  • Younger kids should bathe the night before to reduce bathroom congestion.
  • Have kids choose what they are wearing the night before. Limit choices and make sure everything is neat and clean.
  • Don’t rush the children! Make sure there is enough time to wash, dress, eat breakfast, comb hair and brush teeth. Start earlier if you need to.
  • Avoid turning on the TV. Kids can waste a lot of time watching TV or playing. These activities should be permitted only if they are completely ready for school.
  • Don’t skip breakfast! Hungry kids can’t concentrate in school.
  • Remind kids to use the bathroom just before leaving for school. Lots of kids don’t like to use the school bathroom.
  • Wish the kids a great day. Give them each a hug!

MINIMIZING MORNING MADNESS

good-morningIt’s important to have effective morning routines so children get off to school without stress (theirs or yours!). Older children can help plan or be in charge of their own routines with your guidance.

Here are some specific ideas for minimizing morning madness on school days:

  • Prepare the night before. Make lunch, pack backpacks, and set out clothes.
  • Set up a launching pad—a place near the door for children’s backpacks, coats, shoes, hats and gloves so no time is wasted looking for these items.
  • Wake up at least half an hour before the kids. Shower, get dressed, have your coffee/breakfast, and be ready!
  • Have a reliable wake up system for the kids. An alarm clock or clock radio is good.
  • Stagger wake up times for the kids. Pre-teen and teenagers usually need more time to shower and groom.
  • Younger kids should bathe the night before to reduce bathroom congestion.
  • Have kids choose what they are wearing the night before. Limit choices and make sure everything is neat and clean.
  • Don’t rush the children! Make sure there is enough time to wash, dress, eat breakfast, comb hair and brush teeth. Start earlier if you need to.
  • Avoid turning on the TV. Kids can waste a lot of time watching TV or playing. These activities can be permitted only if they are completely ready for school.
  • Don’t skip breakfast! Hungry kids can’t concentrate in school.
  • Remind kids to use the bathroom just before leaving for school. Lots of kids don’t like to use the school bathroom.
  • Wish the kids a great day. Give them each a hug!

Back to School

SchoolBusSchool is back in session and fall is in the air.

Transitioning from lazy summer days to homework and activity filled days can cause stress for even the most organized households.  To ease the transition for au pairs and the children, its important to discuss changes in schedules, duties, and routines.

Our Community Counselor for the New Orleans area wrote a great post about getting ready for school with your au pair:

Host parents should take the time to review the following:

  • Au pair’s schedule
  • The children’s schedule, including school and extracurricular activities
  • Breakfast routine and types of healthy food to serve
  • What to pack for lunch
  • What to do when a child is staying home sick
  • What to do when a child is late for school
  • After school routine (snacks and free time before starting homework)
  • Designated spot for school bags, lunch boxes and papers that need parent’s signature
  • After-school playdates (who can schedule, where the children can go, etc)

If the au pair drives children to and from school, it’s important to discuss:

  • Buckling seat belts securely
  • Lining up in a car queue
  • Making sure children get on/off on the right side of the car
  • Holding a young child’s hand in the parking lot
  • NEVER leaving a child in the car when dropping off a sibling
  • Observing 20 mph speed limit in school zones
  • Never passing a school bus when it shows a stop sign

Happy Back to School from Au Pair in America!!