As all parents know, the time between waking the kids in the morning and getting them to the school bus or day care can be frustrating, for both the parent and the child. Here are a few tips to help your mornings run more smoothly:

Get Ready:

Do much as possible the night before, especially if you leave early. Get your kids into the habit of laying out their clothes for the next day as a part of their bedtime routine.

Once they aren’t wasting time searching for clothes, they will have more time for breakfast. Mom time saver: double a recipe of pancakes or waffles you make during the weekend, and then freeze the extra. These can be popped in the toaster for a quick breakfast. Or cook up a big batch of oatmeal on Sunday, refrigerate, then heat individual portions in the microwave.

Kids tend to linger over breakfast, so setting a timer for the amount of eating time allowed helps by giving them an auditory reminder to move along.

Get Set:

After breakfast, have kids place everything they will be taking to school or day care in a designated spot; from cell phones to lunch boxes. Pack backpacks, and make sure that shoes and coats are by the door, ready to go. 

• Create a visual reminder of morning tasks by posting a list. For little ones, it can be as simple as a drawing of a toothy grin to remind them to brush their teeth, with a column to check or place a sticker in when the task is done. Many free, printable kid’s chore charts are available on the internet. 

Go!

By establishing a routine and prepping the night before, weekday mornings can be pleasant instead of harrowing. And who knows? By saving time, you might even be able to fit in a story or an extra snuggle before the kids leave.