If getting your kids ready for school feels like a full-body workout before 8am, you’re not alone. Juggling bags, breakfast, and lost shoes with multiple kids is no small feat. These morning routine tips for mums will help make your mornings smoother, more manageable, and (dare I say it?) a little more enjoyable.
The good news? A few small changes can make mornings smoother, calmer, and way less shouty. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mum, a working parent, or somewhere in between, these realistic tips will help your family get moving (without you losing your mind).
Whether you’re in the thick of this season of life or just tired of shouting “Where are your shoes?” on repeat, this is for you.
1. Prep the Night Before (Yes, Even If You’re Exhausted)
It’s the most boring tip because it works. Pack lunchboxes, lay out clothes, sign notes, and sort school bags the night before. This can make a bit difference when it comes to getting kids ready for school the next day.
✨ Helpful resource:
Click this link to access my Evening Routine for Kids. It is editable, so you can customise it to suit your family.
2. Use a Visual Morning Routine Chart
Kids love structure when they can see it. Visual charts make the routine feel like a game and give you one less thing to repeat 47 times. We use 2 different ones. This one from Prepp’d Kids for school mornings and this one from Organising Life Beautifully which is great for weekend and school holidays so you don’t have to hear “what are we doing today?” so often! Bonus points for getting the kids to help out which gives them some ownership of the activities for the day.
3. Create a Shoe Station by the Door
This one small change saves you minutes every morning. No more hunting for missing sneakers under the couch or in the toy box. Go for practical over Pinterest perfect. Where it’s a box that all shoes go in, or a mudroom drop-off locker-style situation – do what works for your family.
4. Stick to a Simple Breakfast Routine
A short list of quick, no-fuss breakfasts on rotation takes the pressure off. Think toast, fruit, overnight oats, or freezer-friendly muffins.
✨ Try this:
Taste.com.au – Quick Kids’ Breakfasts
5. Add a 15-Minute Buffer (Because, life)
Plan to leave earlier than necessary. Something always comes up (or more actually, goes down or missing!) A missing hat, a meltdown, or a mystery sticky substance. By giving yourself a buffer, you can rest assured you have time up your sleeve.
Bonus points if you are all ready early. You can fit in a family dance party or read another chapter of a book to them. You will love the extra bit of calm and bonding time. And who knows!? the next morning they might WANT to get ready early so they can sit and read with mum again!
6. Pack the Car the Night Before
This is one for those days like Athletics Carnivals, or if you are dropping the kids at school and then heading straight to the gym. Pack your gym bag in the car the night before and have your gym clothes ready when you wake up.
Athletics carnival? Pack that picnic blanket or trolley in the car the night before so it’s one less thing to think about the next morning.
7. Turn Your Morning Into a Playlist
Make getting kids ready for school fun! Curate a “get ready” playlist. Assign tasks to each song (e.g., teeth brushed by Song 2). It adds fun, routine, and rhythm to the morning. You can choose high-energy songs to get them going – getting dressed and slower songs for tasks that need them to focus (sitting at the table for breakfast!)
8. Avoid Morning Decisions
Getting kids ready for school can feel like an everyday marathon. No wardrobe battles or lunchbox dilemmas at 7am. Make those choices in the calm of the evening, not in the morning’s chaos. For example, ordering lunches from the Canteen – do it the night before (unless you know your kids might regret their decision the next day. I’ve definitely experienced this before!) Or simply packing lunchboxes the night before and then only needing to add the chopped fruit in the morning will save you time.
9. Give Each Kid a Job
Kids love being helpful (most days). Assign them age-appropriate tasks — from packing their bags to checking off the routine chart. Research shows that kids who do chores are more successful. You can read about it here
10. Let Go of Perfection
Some mornings will still fall apart. That doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’re parenting. You’ve got this, mum. You don’t have to get it right 100% of the time. Celebrate the times when it does work and you are out on time and give yourself grace for the days it doesn’t. Beleive me, even that parent who looks like they have it all together at drop off has days where it does all fall apart.
Bonus for Perth Mums: Want to Slow Down This Season?
As a Perth family photographer, I know how wild these early years can be — and how fast they go. My sessions are designed for real families with real lives (and yes, we run on kid time). Got questions about a family shoot with me? Click here to a FAQ post.
If you’d love to press pause and be in the photos for once, I’d love to help.
👉 Get in touch to book your relaxed family session
x Eileen
