The morning is the most important part of the day, especially when getting ready for school. A good morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day and can make a big difference in how your child does in school. 

Here is our perfect morning routine for going back to school: 

Wake up early

This may be the most challenging part of the morning routine, but it’s important to get up early enough to have a relaxed start to the day. If your child is rushing around trying to get ready for school, it can lead to a stressed-out day. Using an app (like Moshi) to play relaxing music in the background while they get ready is a wonderful way to keep a sense of calm in the atmosphere.

Create and follow a visual schedule

Children are, well, children. They might not understand the importance of the currency of time. They might not fully understand why being consistently late or rushed could lead to unhealthy habits. When you have a visual schedule to refer to of morning tasks that must be completed, you are setting your child (and yourself) up for success. Try to review this visual schedule at some point over the weekend, so your child is prepared to follow it during the week.

Morning meditation

If you can instill a habit of waking up earlier, you might be able to start an excellent routine of a short meditation every morning. Crescentini et al. (2016) state that mindfulness meditation has beneficial psychological effects on children. Increased attention and a decrease in internalizing problems were reported during the study. We have seen a remarkable difference in the entire home’s vibe when we all complete our morning meditations. Click here to access Mr. Snoodle’s Moshi Moodlifter meditation. 

Eat a healthy breakfast

A nutritious breakfast will help your child concentrate in school and have the energy they need to get through the day. It might be a good idea to present an option, either the night before or in the morning, of two types of healthy meals they can choose from. They can indicate their choice on the visual schedule to keep the consistency of the routine.

Get dressed and ready for school

This may seem an obvious step, but it’s important to ensure your child is dressed in comfortable clothes that they can move around in. It’s also important to make sure they have everything they need for school, such as their backpack, lunch, and any materials they need for class. These steps can be practiced over the weekend and then replicated on their schedule as a visual reminder. One family I work with took a video of their child completing these tasks successfully. At the end of the weekend, they show him the video of himself completing his tasks for the morning. This child seems to enjoy the visual representation of completing tasks, which serves as a gentle yet motivating reminder.

Brush teeth and hair

Apart from the obvious reasons why brushing our teeth and hair is a good idea, we can also look at the psychological effect of being proud of how you present to others. If your child looks and feels fresh, they will more likely show confidence in groups and novel situations. 

Head out the door

Once everything is ready, it’s time to head out the door and start the day with a positive attitude. Double-check your visual schedule first to be sure that all tasks are completed. 

Establishing a good morning routine is an essential part of back-to-school preparation. Following these steps will help ensure that your child has a successful day—and year—at school.

Crescentini, C., Capurso, V., Furlan, S., & Fabbro, F. (2016). Mindfulness-oriented meditation for primary school children: Effects on attention and psychological well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 805.

Karla Pretorius

A registered counselor with a MA in Psychology. Co-founder: AIMS Global & Leadership at: Augmental