Daughter is SO SLOW in the mornings

amother

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 8:27 am

No matter how early she goes to bed or how early I wake her up, she does her morning routine soooo slowwwwlllyyy. It makes the morning extremely stressful and she misses the bus frequently. She’s 7. What do I do?

amother

Gladiolus

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 8:30 am

I have one of these. Mine improved with age, so there is hope. She's 11 now and pretty good.

In the meantime, prep as much as you can the night before: lunch packed, HW in backpack, clothes and socks/tights laid out. And lots of moving along reminders in the morning.

amother

Brunette

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:05 am

Incentives are the only way. Three days of being on time gets her an icecream, speacial nosh or a small prize … by me when they are less tired it’s much easier…

amother

Bisque

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 9:50 am

DD the same can be like that.
We try doing races between her and myself who will get dressed first, or timers or see if your dressed before these 3 songs finish (choose fast songs on a playlist)

mummiedearest

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 11:40 am

Visual timers, preferably one with a warning alarm as well. Practice tasks with her on off days- you have five minutes to get dressed. Let’s practice and see how fast you can go. For each morning you finish before the timer, there’s a sticker. Five stickers gets a prize. A whole month gets a bigger prize. Have clothing laid out the night before (you can even have cubbies and lay out a week of outfits in advance). Have a set place for her toothbrush and paste, and a pouch with hair stuff in a central area so you can do her hair in the morning while directing other kid traffic. Until she masters getting dressed quickly, don’t even think of requiring her to do her own hair. Have shoes by the door, placed there nightly. Have an electric toothbrush for her that turns off after an interval. If you don’t want a visual timer, play a favorite song to use as a timer every morning. She needs to finish before the song is over.

amother

Chocolate

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 11:47 am

Does she take forever to get dressed on non school days? My son was like this more when he wasn't interested in going to school. He can get dressed within 5 minutes when he wants to. He is currently almost 8 and a half and he sets his clothes out the night before himself. It also helps in case laundry is needed.

amother

Firethorn

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 11:53 am

We cut out as many steps as possible. Go to bed in tomorrow’s clothes (dress or shirt and leg wear) then all that has to go on is the socks and/or skirt

We put her hair in protective styles and wear a satin bonnet, so no fighting over doing hair.

yogurt pouches or transportable breakfast

Pack lunch and backpack in the evening.

Really the only thing we end up waiting on is toothbrushing. We sometimes make that into a race.

amother

Bone

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 12:18 pm

For this reason I get my kids dressed the night before. (They are not in uniform, though). And if they're ready early enough for breakfast, good, otherwise they get cereal in a bag in their way out.