Okay, school has been back for a week already. We’ve been, slowly, trying to find our way into a normal daily routine. My girls are getting older and our patterns are changing. So, I decided instead of repeatedly reminding my girls of what I expect of them, I would simply write up and post our school year routine. Posting our summer house rules works in the summertime. We all agree to a set of rules, or in this case the steps involved in our before and after school routine, and things run a lot smoother.
Our morning routine looks something like this…
Wake up
Use the washroom
Get dressed
Come downstairs
Eat breakfast
Brush hair
Play, read, whatever
Brush teeth
Shoes, coats, bag and ready to go!
Our after school routine looks like this…
Come home
Have a snack
Get out homework and get to work
20 minutes of computer time per kid
Set and clear the dinner table
Hang out for the evening
Bath/shower/brush teeth
Pick out tomorrow’s outfit
P.J’s on, read in bed until it’s time to be tucked in
Zzzzz…
By simply posting this routine on our bulletin board, in our dining room, we will all have a clear reminder of what is expected of everyone. There isn’t anything too revolutionary in our routine. It’s just a regular, easy going routine. But, by everyone agreeing to it and by posting, I am not constantly saying “Did you brush your hair?” “Did you pick out tomorrow’s outfit?” Makes the school year run a little more smoothly.
Natalie F says
September 11, 2013 at 4:00 pmGreat tips. We are using similar approach here for our daughter. I really need to enforce outfit picking, since we are usually scrambling in the morning to decide what to wear.
[email protected] Measured Mom says
September 15, 2013 at 9:38 pmWe’re working at establishing a good routine at our house – we have one, but sometimes a screaming toddler upsets it! And soon a new baby will also cause some upset… I like the idea of posting it so everyone’s accountable and accepting. I have just one reader, but I’m sure I could design one using pictures. I shared this on my Facebook page as part of the KBN shout out (I’m a little behind, sorry!).