How to make my kids get ready on time in the morning?

Question

My sons ages 5 & 9 are slower then teenage girls getting eady in the morning. I dont even understand what takes them so long! I wake them up at 7 and they are still just barely making the bus at 8:15! And thats with me hollering at them every ten minuets that they need to do "something". It's driving me nuts! Any ideas on what I can do to speed them up any???

To the bedtime question: They go to bed by 9:30 every night. They dont have tv in ther room either. They usually pop right out of bed, not going back to sleep or anything, just soooo slow to get ready.
Thanks for the tips so far. I have tried all of them at some point but nothing has worked yet. I think I'll just need to stand over them for a while and watch what they do and be able to redirect them to the task at hand.

Answer 1

get all the stuff ready a night before.
kids.
get them to bed early.
til they get the routine...
best

Answer 2

They should be in bed by 8:00-8:30. On week-days and 9:00-9:30 on week-ends Then they should wake up around 6:30-7:00 To eat break-fast it should take them 20 minutes. Brush teeth and wash face should take 10-15 minutes. Getting dressed should only take them 5 minutes. Finishing their chores or finishing homework should take 10 minutes. Give them an alarm clock and set it for 6:30 if they don't get up by 6:40 than take away t.v.,playstation,game-boy, radio....Stuff like that then if that doesn't work get them up at 6:00. They might not like it but if they can't get everything done on time they will have to get up earlier and earlier. At first you have to be on them until they get it. And you should tell them that when they don't get everything done a privilege gets taken away for how ever long you want it to be gone for.
I know it will be hard on you and the kids but if they can't learn the easy way the must learn the HARD way. They should be on the bus at 7:45 at the latest. Oh, and make sure each night before they go to bed they have their clothes,socks etc.. Laid out!!! It will save time. Last but not least have them take a shower at NIGHT that is a BIG time-saver!!!!!!
My mom did this to all of us..11 kids........every-body 10 and over bedtime was 9:00. 9 and younger was 8:00 in bed. then from 8:00 to 8:30 the younger kids would have story time with Mom......I hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I forgot...Make a chart and have them check off the things that they have done. and the time that they finished everything.. If they finish by 8:30 give them some t.v. time or something. Thats how they can earn back there stuff too!!

Answer 3

This is what works in my house. First of all the bedtime for my 6 and 3 yr old is 8. I wake my daughter up at 6:15. Her bus runs at 6:55. I endulge her every morning, if she wakes right up and stands up I will carry her into the living room. I always have her clothes laid over the couch arm. (I let her pick them out the night before) I always watch the news in the morning. She hates the news. The deal is when she is fully clothed, socks, shoes, and all she can turn it to cartoons for a bit. This motivates her to get ready quickly. (though she usually lays down on the couch after she gets dressed lol) then after 15 mins of cartoons I get out the hair brush and do her hair and let her pick her earrings for the day.

this just works for us. Hope it helps you.

Good luck
God bless

Answer 4

The night before, tell them at what time they must be at the kitchen table for breakfast, dressed and ready for school, with backpack prepared and by the front door. For an 8:00 departure, I would say to the kitchen by 7:30.

Then for every minute they are late to table, they must go to bed one minute earlier and get up one minute earlier. That's logical.

The 5 yo gets three warnings, the 9 yr old gets only one. This is a one-time warning: at five minutes before 7:30 am, say, "this is your five-minute warning". The three warnings are at 15 minutes til, 10 minutes til, and 5 minutes till.

Each child must have a watch and also a clock in their bedrooms and bathrooms, and you need a large wall clock in the kitchen.

For every minute they are late, say "That's one minute, so one minute early to bed and early to rise." Keep accurate records and hold them to it.

They both must wake up at 6:30. They each set alarms in their rooms. If they want to take a shower, showers must be completed by 7 or it's water off.

The 5 yo should be going to bed at 8pm sharp. That means getting ready for bed at 7:30. The 9 yo should be going to bed at 8:30 - 9 at the very latest.

Bad morning attitude means you pick out the 9 year old's outfit.

You will love me for this.

Answer 5

I have a 12 year old daughte and a 6 year old son, this is what helps me. I make lunches the night before, and they lay out thier clothes the night before as well. My son has a hard time in the morning no matter what time he goes to bed at night. So, I wake him at 6:45 and give him 5 minutes to open his eyes and get out of bed. I let him eat breakfast in the living room so he can watch some t.v. May not be the best for him but it works for us. While he is eating my daughter is doing her hair etc in the bathroom. She get out of there by 7. I take fastest shower known to mankind. My son already knows by the time I get out of the shower he needs to be done eating so he can start getting dressed. He dresses and we brush our teeth together, we have a game to see who has the cleaner teeth. ( I always let him win which gives him a special treat after dinner.) Then he gets to watch a little more tv while I am getting ready and we are out the door. If there are mornings when things arent going good I tell him he will lose the playstation after homework and that is all the push he needs. hopefully some of this will help you...good luck

Answer 6

For my 2 girls ..ages 5 and 6, we have a bedtime routine. We gather everything needed for school, backpacks, papers, anything, and put it near the door. We pick out our clothes and lay them where they are in easy reach in the morning. In the morning, I wake them up starting at 6:50am. It takes my girls a while to get moving to. I wake them and make sure they are up out of their beds. Then I get dressed. While I'm getting dressed, I continue to talk to them, telling them the time and how much more time they have to get dressed. I also remind them if they don't get moving they won't have time for breakfast. Some mornings things don't go so well but generally, we are dressed, have eaten and are on the road to school by 7:25am. I also make sure the night before they are in bed by no later than 8 pm. I remind them they have an early morning and know how hard it is to get up. Seems to work for us.

Answer 7

Try a Routine every morning. Make them have their clothes picked out the night before.. have them lay them out for the morning.. You go in the bathroom before you wake them up.. Put toothpaste on their brushes.. Also make them have everything they need for school the next day in their bookbag and ready to go the night before. I know it takes a lil more effort but it works.. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old i have to get up and we have a routine like that and we are dressed and ready to leave at 7:30! It works!

Answer 8

I think you've stood over them too much already. Quit! If they are not ready for the bus on their own, let them know ahead of time that there WILL be a consequence. (and it's NOT missing school that day!) It should be no TV, no video games, no friends...don't tell them specifically what it will be, because then they will analyze whether it's worth it. Then RESIST hurrying them along and reminding them. Relax.
And most important of all when they aren't ready on their own, find one consequence that means a lot too them, and CARRY THROUGH. I know it hurts us as much or more than it hurts them but..If all you do is 'threaten' and never follow through, they know. You'll never get anywhere with them.
I also LOVE the idea (someone else gave)of letting them know they have 30 min., 15 min, 5 min. I do that at school. It helps them to start judging time and helps them in judging their progress. You aren't keeping on them, they are learning to do it themself.

Answer 9

Oh boy do i feel your pain! I have a 8 yr old girl and 1 yr old baby and go to school every morning. i have to get them both up and fed, dress myself and make my 8 yr old her lunch! (while chasing a baby around the house) well I found that setting her alarm next to her bed got her up, and I set her clothes out the night before. I also place everything on the counter for her lunch the night before. ( as long as it does not need refrigeration) So in the morning all I have to do is make breakfast and do her hair. everything else is pretty much set up. Try setting their clothes the night before. Also they are old enough to do a lot for themselves. So have them wake up earlier to help you out! I feel for you, but I think these things should make your mornings a bit less stressful!

Answer 10

I used to have this problem with my girls, too. The thing that worked for us is not letting them have breakfast until they were dressed and ready to go. I was surprised at how much that motivated them. We had a few mornings of them wolfing it down in the car, though! Turned out they hustled to get ready because they really wanted their breakfast.

Answer 11

What time are they going to bed at night? You might want to send them to bed an hour early because they might be lacking a little sleep. Also, lay their clothes out the night before and have everything in order for them. When they do get up in the morning, have them go and wash their faces with a little cool water to help wake them up and get the motivated. Don't leave them alone to get dressed and do everything by themselves. My boys are 11 and 9 and they will take their time too unless I'm there steadying them along.