Morning Routines are a Gift

By Donna Kostiew

We’ve been told over and over again how important it is to have a nighttime routine for our children. It empowers them, it helps to keep them on track with getting ready for bed on their own, and it helps them achieve optimal sleep. Pretty significant reasons, don’t you think? Well, it’s also just as important to establish a morning routine too! Just as a nighttime routine prepares your child to have a successful sleep, having one in the morning prepares them for a successful day. And isn’t that what we all want for ourselves and our children?

Routines Make Things Easier

To get your child’s day off to the best possible start, you will need a morning routine. This will help your child know what to expect every day and will keep them on track so that you can get out of the door on time. Knowing what to expect is a great comfort and motivator for children, but there are other benefits to a morning routine as well. Here are a few.

• Better sleep – Establishing a routine so that your child has to be up at the same time every day will actually help them improve their sleep by maintaining their natural circadian rhythm. In addition, our bodies get used to our sleep routines so it will be easier for them to wake up as well. That means more time for you in the morning because you will be spending less time trying to drag them out of bed.
• Fewer arguments - Having a consistent schedule in the morning minimizes arguments and tension. If your child knows what is expected of them to get ready each day, they may be more likely to do it on their own. Let them help you create a plan for the mornings so that they will feel empowered and focused on doing a good job!
• Time for breakfast – If your child stays consistent with the schedule, they will be less likely to become distracted and will stay on time with completing all of the morning tasks. This will keep them from getting behind and running out of time to eat a healthy breakfast. Usually, when kids (especially older ones) are running late, they are tempted to grab something while running out the door. These types of breakfasts aren’t the healthiest and oftentimes will not keep them satisfied until lunch, which can become a huge distraction when they are in class.

Morning routines help so many people start their day off on the right foot. Give your child that same benefit by helping them to establish one of their own. And remember, if their day starts off better, yours may very well too.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in The Woodlands, Tex.