Back to School Morning Routine

Summer is winding down, and it’s time to start planning your morning routine for those busy school days.

Getting the kiddos on a routine is key to getting out of the house on time with the least amount of stress.

Taking into account morning traffic, Madison’s school is about 30 minutes away, so it’s crucial that we make it out of the house on time. This was not always an easy task for us last year.

To help Madison (8) and Jack (4) stay on task, I have created a morning routine chart for them to follow this year.

The chart includes tasks the kids are responsible for (e.g. make bed, get dressed, etc.) as well as reminders for when they need to wake-up and when we leave for school.

I wanted our charts to be durable and reusable, so I opted to laminate the sheet and attach a dry erase marker for them to use to check off their progress. I posted the charts on the kids’ mirrors using suction cups. That way, they are easy to find and will be one of the first things they see in the morning.

Madison’s Room

Jack’s Room

Our School Morning Routine

On a typical school morning, Madison and I are up around 6:30 or 6:45 am. I try to get up in time to make a cup of coffee before Jack wakes up (I need all my energy for that strong spirited boy!).

While the kids are eating breakfast, I’ll assemble Madison’s lunch. I like to keep our essential lunch box supplies organized and out of the way when not in use. That way, I can prep some items the night before, and reserve the mornings for fresh cut fruit and assembly. Plus, it gives me time to sprinkle in a little cuteness using pre-printed lunch box notes.

After breakfast, we all start getting ready for the day. This is where we struggled last year, and where I expect the morning routine chart to come in handy. I had reminded the kids’ step by step on what needed to be done to get ready for school, as they have a tendency to daydream.

This year, the kids will take more responsibility for getting ready (mostly Madison). Because they can check the steps off as they go, both will know exactly what needs to be done and in what order. Madison thrives off of structure, so I think this will be the perfect fit for her. Since we’re still working with Jack on his letters, my chart includes simple diagrams that he can follow along with.

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To create your own morning routine chart, here’s what you’ll need…

Expo Dry Erase Markers | Small Suction Cups | Hole Punch | Ribbon

My Morning Routine Printable

Step 1: Print the morning routine printable PDF file, which can be found below. Each file includes two identical checklists. Since we’ll be laminating the lists, you can use normal computer paper or cardstock.

Step 2: Cut the printed sheet in half (the middle is at 5 1/2 inches).

Step 3: Place both sheets in a single lamination sleeve, and run through a laminator. Since I don’t have one of my own, I just used the one at Kinkos – it costs less than $3 per sheet, and both charts fit on a single sheet.

Step 4: Once the laminated sheet is done cooling, cut down the middle. This will leave you with two laminated morning routine sheets.

Step 5: Punch a hole at the top of the laminated sheet. You’ll want this to be in the middle, so the chart doesn’t lean to one side when attached using the suction cup.

Step 6: Hook a small suction cup through the hole and attach your checklist to a mirror or glass window.

Step 7: Attach the dry erase marker to the suction cup using ribbon.

Printable Morning Routine Checklist PDF

To receive your morning routine checklist, simply click the link below!

Click here for My Morning Routine