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Home › Articles › Parenting Strategies › Morning Madness?

Morning Madness?

Organizing Your Morning Routine

By Alina Kelly

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Polland suggests making daily routines fun. "Most people view things as, 'When we complete the routine, then we can have fun,'" says Polland. "The better way is to make the things that need doing fun."

One option is to put up a chart that outlines the bedtime routine. Upon completing an item on the chart, give the child a sticker to put beside that item. Having a specified number of stickers on the chart results in a reward for the child. This can be a non-monetary reward, like a picnic in the park with Dad or a skip around the block with Mom. Alternatively, it can be a selection from a bag of small, inexpensive wrapped toys.

Polland hastens to point out that the rewards are incentives, not bribes. She likens them to sales incentives, such as trips, which are often given to salespeople to reward success. In a similar fashion, you pay attention to and reward a child's appropriate behaviors. As she puts it, "Catch them doing something good."

"Children younger than age 8 cognitively have a difficult time completely understanding another person's perspective," says Reedy. "Therefore, screaming, 'I'm going to be late for work,' doesn't really solve too many of the issues."

The challenge lies in finding ways to get your children to do what they need to do, without getting into a power struggle. Whether it's getting ready in the morning or getting to bed on time at night, give children the autonomy to complete necessary tasks themselves, let them have fun in the process and have a great day.

The Importance of Breakfast

Getting children to eat breakfast is part of the morning challenge many parents face each day. Is it worth the struggle? Is breakfast important? According to three specialists in the area of children's nutrition, the answer is yes.

Carolyn Vaughn, a clinical nutritionist at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., says that children who eat breakfast perform better at school, have improved school attendance, are better behaved, are more energetic and have better weight control.

Jennifer Thomas, a dietician at the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas, says that a balanced breakfast provides a high-fiber carbohydrate (like fruit, oatmeal, whole grain cereal or bread), a low-fat protein source (like fat-free milk or yogurt) and a heart-healthy fat (like peanut butter, nuts or wheat germ).

Ann Condon-Meyers, a clinical dietician at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pa., says that a good breakfast should include two or three of the five food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein).

Vaughan suggests these easy and appealing breakfast ideas: whole wheat toast with peanut butter and banana with a glass of milk; yogurt with granola and fruit; cheese toast and calcium-fortified orange juice; oatmeal or cold cereal in low-fat milk with banana.


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