Mornings can be stressful for adults heading to work, but did you know that they can be overwhelming for children, too? Just as adults have their morning routines, your child can benefit greatly from having a daily school routine. When children know what to expect as they start their day, it’s easier for them to move from home to school with confidence.
Let’s take a look at positive morning school routines for preschoolers and kindergartners!
What Makes a Good Daily School Routine?
By teaching your child the importance of establishing healthy habits, you’re giving them the foundation they need for a brighter future. As you work on your child’s morning routine, don’t be too ambitious from the start. Smaller goals your child can build over time are much easier to sustain.
Letting your child be part of the routine-making process can help, too. They’ll feel like they have ownership over their routine, and that can encourage them to stick with it.
Daily School Routine for Preschoolers
When you’re setting up a morning school routine for your preschooler, there are six things you’ll need to be sure to incorporate:
1. Start the Night Before
The best way to ensure success is proper preparation. You can get a jump on the next morning by picking out clothes, packing backpacks, and making lunches and snacks the night before. This will help save time and confusion for everyone. Your child can help by choosing their own clothes and making sure their backpack is packed.
2. Stick to a Sleep Schedule
Your preschooler has a lot of growing to do, and in order to meet those milestones, they need a lot of sleep. Preschool-aged children need about 10-13 hours of sleep each day, though that can include naps. Setting regular bedtimes and wakeup times will help to accomplish this goal. Beyond that, waking your little one up a few minutes earlier than necessary can help them ease into the day.
3. Use Visual Aids
Having to remember a routine all on their own can be stressful for a preschooler. Instead, use a chart to guide them through their morning school routine. This can include pictures for children who can’t yet read. Letting them check off each task as they accomplish it will help them to feel proud of themselves.
4. Take Time for Breakfast
It really is the most important meal of the day! Children who eat a healthy breakfast every morning meet their growth milestones, have better focus and memory, and have better overall health. Sitting down for breakfast as a family is also a great time to connect with your children and model healthy habits.
5. Be Flexible
Not every morning is going to go according to plan. When snags happen or plans change, let your child know it’s okay for their morning school routine to be different. If this is something you know about in advance, give your little one a heads up and let them know what will happen.
6. Celebrate Successes
Lay on the praise! Knowing that they’ve done a good job will inspire your child to keep up with their routine.
Setting Your Little Learner Up for Success
Having a solid daily school routine does a lot more than make mornings less overwhelming for your entire household. Morning school routines help your child learn responsibility, time management, structure, and independence. They’ll also develop a healthy sleep schedule, which is invaluable for their physical and mental health, as well as a sense of accomplishment.
Lightbridge Academy: Your Partner in Healthy Development
At Lightbridge Academy’s educational child care centers, we do a lot more than provide top quality early childhood education. We support your child’s physical, mental, and emotional growth.
Our programs see every moment of childhood as a learning opportunity, and that helps us teach children the practical skills they’ll need throughout their lives. We work closely with parents to ensure they have the support and resources they need to encourage their child’s development, both at home and at our centers.
Learn more about how Lightbridge Academy gives your child the nurturing support they need to grow into their best selves. Schedule a tour today!
