Getting out the door in the morning with children can feel like trying to herd cats... while brushing your teeth... with one shoe on.

If your mornings are filled with forgotten socks, meltdowns over cereal bowls, or last-minute scrambles for library books, you’re not alone.

I wrote this blog to make things a bit easier.

With a few playful shifts, mornings can actually become a time of connection instead of chaos.

Start with this Question................................... What skill Is my child still learning?

Before you lose it over your 5-year-old putting their shirt on upside down for the third time, pause and ask yourself.

What skill are they still building?

Are they still figuring out how to manage time? Struggling with transitions? Forgetting steps in their routine?

Seeing the struggle as a skill gap (not defiance) helps us shift from frustration to coaching. Children aren't trying to be difficult, they’re just still learning.

Turn the routine into an Obstacle Course.

“Get dressed, brush your teeth, and put on your shoes” is boring to children.

But what if it was an adventure?

Try changing things up.

• Jump over a pillow after getting dressed

• Tiptoe like a ninja to the bathroom

• Crawl to the door to find your shoes

Suddenly, you’re not barking orders, you’re the host of The Amazing Morning Race.

The “Get dressed together” Basket.

Sometimes the problem isn’t the task, it’s the loneliness. Children don’t always want to do things alone, especially first thing in the morning.

Try making a “get dressed together” basket.

Pop your clothes and their clothes in the same basket, sit on the floor, and get dressed side by side.

You’re modelling the routine, making it feel cosy, and avoiding a power struggle.

Great connection first thing in the morning :)

Connection before Correction

When mornings start with rush rush rush, children often react with push back push back push back.

What they’re really asking for is ...........................Connection.

Take just two minutes after they wake up to snuggle, read a short book, or stretch together like sleepy cats.

A little one-on-one time can reset their whole mood (and yours too).

The magic of the Rewind Button

Sometimes the morning just unravels. Your child's crying. You’re snapping. Nobody can find pants.

Instead of spiralling, try the rewind technique.

“That didn’t feel good. Shall we do a rewind and try again?”

Children LOVE this.

It gives them a second chance, shows them how to recover from hard moments, and gives you both a fresh start.

☀️ One More Thing…

You don’t need perfect mornings. You just need a few tools to make them smoother, lighter, and more connected.

So tomorrow morning, take a breath, grab that basket, and get ready to smile your way through a better day.

Want more ideas like this? Check out my resource hub community full of resources.

Sue xx