Looking for a way to make mornings a little less hectic? Wish your kids were more independent when it came to getting ready for school? Let’s talk about making a morning routine checklist for kids so you can stop nagging and get your life back.
Table of Contents
Morning Routine Checklist: Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Regulation and Autonomy
As adults, we develop better emotional regulation skills and the ability to make changes and take control of our morning routines. However, managing emotions and establishing routines can be more challenging for children. They may not have the same emotional regulation or autonomy level as adults. That’s why providing guidance and support is crucial. While we can search for routine morning checklists, children often require additional assistance to navigate their mornings smoothly.
Read More: Daily Schedule for Autistic Child
The Importance of a Morning Routine Checklist for Kids
A morning routine checklist can be a valuable tool for children, helping them stay organized, focused, and prepared for the day ahead. Here’s why it’s beneficial:
- Promotes Independence: A checklist empowers children to take ownership of their morning routine and accomplish tasks on their own.
- Reduces Decision-Making Stress: By having a clear checklist, children don’t have to spend time deciding what to do next, reducing decision fatigue and morning stress.
- Improves Time Management: Following a checklist encourages children to complete tasks promptly, ensuring they are ready for school or other activities on time.
- Enhances Focus: A structured checklist helps children stay focused on each task, minimizing distractions and increasing productivity.
- Builds Consistency: Consistently following a checklist establishes a routine that children can rely on, creating a sense of stability and predictability.
Want a free printable morning routine checklist?
How To Make a Morning Routine Checklist: Step-By-Step
Where do you start when you are making a morning routine checklist for your kids? You know what your child needs to do to be ready for the day, but how can you put it together in a way that works?
We have a step-by-step for you that will walk you through the process of creating your kid’s routine.
1. Define What’s Already Working in Other Routines for Your Kiddo
What kind of skills has your child already learned? For example, are they able to pick out their own outfit? Or do they still need help with that? Is this an activity you can do before bedtime?
Knowing what your child can and can’t do independently will help as you create their checklist. You also want to consider other routines you have in place.
What is working in those routines, and what isn’t? Take what is working and implement it as a part of your kiddo’s morning routine. If it isn’t working, consider what else might work.
Read more: Video Modeling for Neurodivergent Kids
For example, let’s say at bedtime, your child brushes their teeth while listening to a song that plays for the length of time they need to brush. If this is effective, you can move that part of the routine to mornings as well.
However, let’s say that part of your child’s checklist shows them a picture that indicates what task they’re on, but they still need a lot of verbal prompts. Consider implementing a verbal recording on Goally to give them the verbal prompt they need without you needing to worry about “nagging” them.
2. Create Consistency With a Checklist They Can Use Everyday
As an adult, it’s likely that you like knowing what to expect. This is true for your child as well.
Make sure that everyone will use the morning routine checklist every day. While some things might shift, for example, they might get ready for soccer practice instead of school on the weekends, they will still be getting ready for the day’s activities by getting dressed.
When it comes to helping your children learn new skills, it’s important to assess what level they’re at and what support they might need. For younger children, it might be necessary to break down the steps to brushing their teeth and provide a more detailed list. But for older children who have more experience, a simple reminder to “brush teeth” might suffice.
Goally | Visual Scheduler for Autism
Does your child struggle with getting ready in the morning independently? Goally’s routine app on the best tablet for kids breaks down large tasks into small, achievable steps for autistic kids. Create custom routines with your own videos & pictures for every step.
3. Create Rewards and Involve Your Child in Growing Their Independence Skills
As your children complete their routines, you can give them points towards earning rewards. This will encourage them to get involved with the checklist.
As you’re deciding on rewards for your kiddo, make sure they’re developmentally appropriate. For example, a toddler might consider one gummy bear a reward; however, an older child won’t be as motivated by one gummy bear. But, they might be motivated by a bag of gummy bears.
You can also let your kids help you decide on their rewards. Some ideas can include:
- Pancake breakfast
- A trip to the park
- Extra playtime
- Screentime
Read more: Best Weather App
The reward doesn’t need to be something expensive and extravagant. It simply needs to have value for your child. You can also reward your child if they go faster in their routine. If you’re using Goally, it will automatically add points for you and allow your child to see how close they are to redeem a reward.
Once you have established your morning routine checklist, how do you start implementing it? You might want to consider choosing to teach your kids a different routine first. One of the most important things you can do is to go slow. Introducing too much all at once can be overwhelming to your child. Don’t expect them to get everything perfect in one day or even one week. Give them time to learn their new routine. You can track how long it takes them to complete routines using Goally and see the progress your kiddos make as you head towards less stressful mornings.
Goally | Apps To Structure Your Kiddo’s Routine
Does your child struggle with transitions or staying on task? Goally’s visual schedule app breaks down large tasks into small, achievable steps. It helps kids complete their tasks independently!
Create custom routines with your own videos & pictures for every step. The steps come in small, bite-sized pieces to help your child learn the little fundamentals (like putting the toothpaste on their toothbrush!) to achieve bigger goals. And that’s just the beginning.
In conclusion, incorporating a morning routine checklist for kids can greatly benefit their emotional regulation, autonomy, and overall organization. By providing guidance and support through a structured checklist, children can develop independence, reduce decision-making stress, improve time management, enhance focus, and build consistency. Tailor the checklist to your child’s specific needs, and empower them to navigate their mornings with confidence and success.
FAQs About Morning Routine Checklist for Kids
What should be included in a morning routine checklist for kids? A morning routine checklist for kids should include tasks such as brushing teeth, washing face, getting dressed, eating breakfast, packing their backpack, and any other tasks specific to your child's needs.
How can a morning routine checklist benefit children with special needs? A morning routine checklist can provide structure and consistency for children with special needs, helping to reduce anxiety and stress, and improving their ability to complete tasks independently.
How can parents create a morning routine checklist for kids with special needs? Parents can create a morning routine checklist for kids with special needs by considering their child's individual needs and abilities, breaking down tasks into manageable steps, and including visual aids and prompts as needed.
What are some strategies for making a morning routine checklist more effective? To make a morning routine checklist more effective, parents can use positive reinforcement, such as stickers or rewards, to motivate their child, establish clear expectations, and provide plenty of support and guidance as needed.
Can a morning routine checklist help children with special needs develop independence? Yes, a morning routine checklist can be a helpful tool for children with special needs to develop independence, as it provides structure, routine, and a sense of accomplishment when tasks are completed.
This post was originally published on 02/07/2022. It was updated on 5/30/2023.
Goally
We help parents teach their kids life skills, like doing bedtime and morning independently. Backed by science, we incorporate evidence-based practices and expert-informed designs in all of our apps and content.
