Keep the mornings moving smoothly!
I have created and utilized morning charts since Karlie, my oldest, was a toddler. I have always felt that a routine gives structure to a day and has great benefit. Routines can help everyone be more efficient and productive when a well thought-out routine has been set. I decided long ago that it was important for children to have some routine. Morning charts for kids is a visual and tangible way for the kids to accomplish their morning tasks. Over the years, I have updated, tweaked and added things that each child needs to work on. I’ll be sharing about our newest version here.
This morning, my kids earned screen time by marking off their chart as they got ready for school. They have normal daily tasks to check off.
What do the morning charts include?
The morning charts for kids include eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth, do hair, deoderent, bag ready, shoes on, and make bed. These tasks are listed on a chart and each day the kids can mark off what they have accomplished. It’s an easy visual to see where each kid is at any moment of the morning. When they are finished each morning, they bring the completed chart to Dad or I, and we allow them to change their screen time up 20 minutes per day.
Reward for the kids
We do not do a lot of screen time in our house. So earning screen time is beneficial for them to work towards. They begin each week with 20 minutes and can earn 20 additional minutes each morning they complete their charts. The maximum number of number of minutes they can have each weekend is 160 minutes. My kids rarely get that much as they usually choose to take the weekends off- which is fine with me. This also limits how much time they’re allowed to use.
Screen time is typically saved for the weekends. The screen time may be used to go on their individual ipads or video games. We try to keep the increments to around 20 minutes each time. We think that is a good amount of time for their brains to consume before it causes behavior issues. Occasionally, they are allowed to during the week to use their screen time; these are reserved for special situations. Our TV is in our family living room and if we are watching something it’s as a family and doesn’t count towards their screen time they have earned.
How did I make the morning charts?
l created the template on a Word document with each of the kid’s specific needs in mind. I then printed them on white card stock. Then I laminated them so the children can use dry erase markers to check off each task and update their screen time minutes as needed. It’s an easy way to erase and reuse each week. Next, I hot-glued round magnets on the back of the clipboards.
This is the first year I’ve used an 8 1/2 x 11″ clipboard and it’s working fine. Yet, previously I had used a 5 x 7″ clipboard and I much prefer the smaller size. The smaller boards stay on the refrigerator better and they are smaller to carry around the house. I will be looking for to update next fall. I enjoy creating my morning chart for kids; that way I can add their specific activities or needs on there.
Where are the kid’s charts located?
The morning charts for kids hang on the side of our refrigerator. They are easy to grab, see and find. The children can take them with them as they walk around the house getting ready. Or they can choose to leave it on the fridge and go back-and-forth from the fridge after each task is completed. Sometimes they set it on the table during the mornings and return it to the fridge when they are done. I also keep a magnetic box with expo dry erase markers next to the charts. (There are really neat magnetic markers as well- we just have lots of the other ones to use op first.) The erasers are magnetic as well and live on fridge.
Bonus section
There’s a bottom portion of the chart that we haven’t used a ton this fall. This spring, I am planning on using it more often. This bottom part is for the afternoons. The idea was to add it to their afternoon tasks and earn extra minutes or family tickets for completing. Each bottom chart is based on what the kid’s need to review or do and it also considers their their activities for that specific day. For example, Karlie takes piano lessons on Mondays, so I would like her to practice piano every day that she does not have a lesson; so piano is listed Tuesday through Sunday. Liam and London participate in AWANA this year at our church. I would like them to practice their verse everyday they do not attend AWANA.
Of course, we may not get to everything everyday-but it’s a goal. I do have a few small chores I like the kids to accomplish over the weekend, typically Saturdays, as I do not love to have the kid’s do a lot of chores on Sundays. We like to leave space to celebrate Sabbath-as much as possible.
Why are the morning charts beneficial?
Over the morning, I like to glance over the charts and say, “Hey, you forgot to make your bed”. Or, when they are playing with Legos or hockey, I can see if they are free to play. This is convenient because I don’t have to remember and list off ALL of the 6-7 things they need to do. I just ask if their charts are finished and they know what that means. It takes a lot of practice and reminding to get the kids into the habit.
Quite frankly, not everyone of my children even have it down every day. Each child is very different in their approach to using the chart. Some of my kids love it and thrive while others would rather not be as structured. Every kids likes to earn screen time and have the ability to play on the weekend freely. Each week they can start fresh with 20 minutes.
These are just general ideas and our entire family is flexible. We are not perfect and do not complete them every day. Goals are really great to have in place and routines are important, but if the kids don’t get it all done that’s ok too. Special things and situations come up. But for the most part, we try to do these daily and have a beneficial routine. As parents, we are striving to raise responsible children and grow them into responsible adults. Continuing to shape, teach and reteach are tasks I don’t take lightly. Giving the kids the responsibility to do their own tasks frees me to work on lunches or prep for the day. Morning charts for kids will help them strive and I think they are a great addition to our family. Have you every wanted to put one together?
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Hey people!!!!!
Good mood and good luck to everyone!!!!!