10 Tips for Getting Out the Door with Your Little Kids
I had to laugh at a parent's request for advice they hadn’t heard several times over for getting their kids out the door. At the end of the day, the tried and true stuff does usually work, but hopefully, something on this list will feel like a new idea!
1. Only store clothes the kids can see that are appropriate for the season. Once the temperature starts dropping, pack the lightweight clothes away. And visa versa.
2. Pick out clothes the night before and consider letting kids wear them to bed, so they are ready to go in the morning. With 1-2-year-olds, you pick the clothes but you can begin to offer choices like left leg first or right leg first? With 3-4-year-olds, A/B choice works well: Do you want to wear your truck shirt or your Dino shirt? Some four-year-olds will be ready to pick things out on their own. If possible, don’t sweat the small stuff: If they want to wear a tutu, let them. If their child care or nursery school has specific rules, cheerfully let your child know that if it were up to you, you’d say yes, but school says no, so they are going to have to wait until after school to put on their tutu.
3. If they aren’t great clothes for sleeping, put the Next Day Outfit in the bathroom. I recommend having a hook in the bathroom for pajamas. That way, in the morning, kids come in to use the toilet, strip down, hang their pajamas up, and their clothes for the day are right there. This keeps kids from getting distracted by the toys and books in their bedroom.
4. Whether or not your kids still need help with zippers and buttons, it is important to connect with them warmly before they get too far into their day with hugs and kisses and sheer delight at seeing them.
5. From the bathroom, walk them to breakfast, focusing on exciting things that are going to happen at school that day. If a child is dawdling or being clinging, introduce some silliness like making Choo Choo train sounds or seeing how many giant steps it takes to get to the kitchen.
6. I found it easier to have limited breakfast choices, often that was cereal or leftovers from dinner the night before (who said you have to eat breakfast cereal for breakfast?). Provide autonomy by storing the non-breakable plates and cups where your kids can reach them. Starting in preschool, you can store cereal down low in child-accessible containers, so your littles can serve themselves. Milk can also be stored in a child-size pitcher, so they can eventually be independent with their milk, too.
7. Pack lunches and snacks the night before.
8. A policy of "dressed and fed" before kids can start playing helps the morning go more smoothly. Kids are going to need some support knowing how much time they have to play before transitioning out the door. They probably also need at least a five-minute warning.
9. Have a rousing chant or song that announces it is time to come to the door, get shoes and jackets on and get out the door. If your family is struggling with this, consider offering a short-time award on days the whole family gets there. Caveat: Don’t do this if it is always the same child making everyone late. If that is the case, work with that child individually.
10. Everyone ready? Cheerfully march out the front door!
If over time kids are still not settling down into the routine, have them practice it at some other time—like on a Saturday morning when there is no time constraint. Sweeten the deal by offering a special outing if they can beat a certain time.
Still not working? Use the steps above but look where you can provide even more humor and playfulness.