Tips to Help Parents and Children in the Morning

Every busy parent knows that it can be rough stuff in the mornings. Getting yourself ready can be a hassle, but if you have kids it can be brutal. However, there are a few things you can do to help your morning move a little more smoothly. It does take some prep (as does every time saver), but most of it can be done the night before.

Decide what you are going to wear the night before. Not just your outfit, either. If you plan to wear accessories and if you need specific shoes, get those ready as well. To further help you on a regular basis, you can order your closet according to the function of the clothing. Put all of your "stay at home" clothes together, and put your work clothes next to each other. That way you know where to look in your closet for clothes to fit the occasion.

You can further help your morning routine by using a protracted hair and makeup routine. Choose hairstyles that are easy to do. You can purchase makeup compacts that include shadow, blush, and liner. This means that these colors are already coordinated to look good together, and you don't have to hunt for matching makeup. For tips on getting ready quickly in the morning, read my article Get Ready to Greet the Day in Less Than 10 Minutes.

The same principle can be applied to getting your children ready in the morning. Help your child lay out his or her outfit the night before. If you let your children pick out their own clothing, have them decide what they will wear the night before and let them know that they cannot make changes the next morning. Another way to help your children understand what they need to do to get ready in the morning is to post a list of steps where they can see them. Use pictures for kids who cannot read. A poster with a picture of the child brushing his or her teeth and also getting dressed helps them know what to do in the morning.

Laying out needed outfits carries over to preparing briefcases, backpacks, and lunches. The night before, make sure you have everything you need for work in your briefcase or bag. Pack your lunch so that all you have to do is grab it out of the fridge. The same is true of the kids' backpacks. Make sure all the homework is done and stowed away, along with anything needed for show and tell and any permission slips you have signed.

Taking 20 to 30 minutes the night before to prepare for the next day is a good way to wind down, and to help your morning run much smoother. And it will ensure that you have time in the morning to relax just before getting up. You can start your day out right by taking five to ten minutes just after you wake up to breath slowly and think about what you want to accomplish.