Dealing With Dawdling Kids

Written by Janna Qualman

Mom Stages - Children

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Do you have a little one who is hard to wake in the morning? Is it hard to keep them on task as they get ready for school? Try these tips to get your a.m. moving smoothly.

To rouse them with a bit of ease, try one or all of these methods.

• Offer their favorite breakfast. If it's waffles she likes best, tell her you'll serve 'em up hot if she'll get up the first (or even second) time she's asked.
• Play a favorite song in his room. It will get his toes tappin' and dance him right out of bed. If it's possible, change the lyrics to apply to your morning. My girls like the High School Musical series. I play the song What time is it? and alter the words to What time is it? Time to get up! Let's have some breakfast! The music gets them moving, and my silly lyrics get us all looking alive.
• Ask a special family member -- maybe Grandpa Joe or Cousin Chrissy -- to record a wake-up message, or even make a daily call. Your child will look forward to waking to their voice each day.
• "Give in" on something. Allow them to choose their outfit from head to toe (whereas you may typically help them dress), if they make efforts to rise early enough. Having control over such a thing is big for kids!
• If your child is old enough, take them shopping and allow them to pick out the alarm clock of their choice. Help them learn how to set it, and leave it to them as their responsibility. They'll feel so grown up!

And help your child stay on task with any number of these options:

• Be firm with their ritual. Don't let them pick up a crayon or try to play with the dog unless they've done all their duties and have a few spare minutes.
• Make it fun! Sing silly songs or make it a race to see who can brush their hair the quickest.
• The night before a school day, have your child make a list (or draw a picture if they can't yet read) of the things they'll need to do in the morning. They'll be able to see at a glance that they'll have to brush their teeth, wash their face, find socks, etc., which will help them stay focused. Plus, they'll get the satisfaction of marking things off their list.
• Promise to treat them with a trip to the library or a weekend movie rental if they're timely all week.
• Spend some time organizing a sticker chart together. Set rules for getting ready and make the guidelines and outcomes clear. For example, each smoothly-operated morning grants them a sticker, and so many stickers grants them a special treat (it doesn't have to be fancy). Or, certain privileges (playing on the computer, etc.) will be taken away if so few stickers are earned. Work together so they know what's expected of them. And feeling they've had a say in the plan will make them want to do their best!

Don't forget to be patient. Getting this stuff down, as with any routine, will take time. Make it as much fun as you can with the time allowed, and don't hesitate to get creative and have fun. You'll both feel better about your mornings!

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