Pain getting ready for school. Any suggestions?

Iris - posted on 08/27/2009

Well what worked for me, is blackmailing them.. What I use to tell my children is if they get ready for school on time and be ready to go everyday , at the end of the week, give them a treat.. Like order pizza and movies or take them to a movie to show them that they do what u want, then they get rewarded..

Karlien - posted on 08/26/2009

Hi Monica, I have a 7 and a 9 year old and I work full day. I do not have the luxury of being late every morning... I strongly believe in teaching my kids to take responsibility for themselves and learning about the consequences of their actions. We use various star charts in our home to guide them through their daily tasks, from getting into the bath without moaning at night, to getting dressed and brushing teeth in the morning. They get both positive and negative stars, but the important thing is that they get a choice in everything they do. If they for instance have'nt made their beds properly, they get a negative star. That in itself is bad enough for them to want to do it right. No fighting neccesary. My kids have never been so well behaved since we've started this system, and I haven't been late for work since! Let me know if you'd like more info on the system, I'll let you know. Good luck!

Kelly - posted on 08/26/2009

mine were sorry are the same way,it drove me retarded,then I just let them do their thing,if they miss the bus oh well WALK,and make sure the school gives them a little grife,after a bit theyll get tired of walking and detentions,theyll get up

Denise - posted on 08/26/2009

Monica trust me they are right with the make them get EVERYTHING ready the night before. It is the ONLY way I can get my 9yo out the door on time. Used to be last minute I was dressing her and she was eating on the bus. But once her clothes and everything were set aside the night before then that took away the stress of finding things.

Plus give them extra time. Wake them earlier (yes even if it means you get up earlier) and that way they do have time for petting the dog and dawdling.


Oh and Sarah is right about you have to get them good at it now. My 18yo was having a bad time with NOT getting out the door in time to make her bus and finally we said "You will just have to walk to school if you miss it." She got REAL good at never waking us after that (she was 16 and 17 at the time).

This is her last year and I pray she remembers we are not going to be her bus for her.

I know that I could do it for her, as I am a stay at home mom, BUT that is not gonna help her when she is on her own needing to get up for a job.

My stepson used to ALWAYS have his dad wake him and get him to school. Now it is my poor daughter in laws job:P

Sarah - posted on 08/24/2009

Getting things ready to go the night before is a good way to do it, I did the same thing for myself and my husband for getting ready for work and the kids off to daycare when I had a job. I have not had that much trouble with it but a friend of mine took the advice, she gave her kids so much time to get things done and if they didn’t get it done she sent them as they where regardless and they suffered the consequences . I think your kids are old enough after a few times they should shape up. Believe me if you don’t get them to shape up now when they grow up they won’t be any better. My husband still has trouble getting ready and would be buggerd without me.

Kelly - posted on 08/24/2009

I always make mine do everything possible the night before. Lunches packed, clothes selected, bookbag hanging at the door. If that doesn't help, maybe drastic measures--make them sleep in their clothes and see if that helps? LOL. I know, mornings can be sooooo stressful. My older two, boys two years apart, used to cause me so much stress in the mornings, because I took them to school and worked full-time. Now I am home, and that makes all the difference in the world. I have one still at home, and one going into second grade. If she misses the bus, it isn't the end of the world, I can always take her. The older two are now in high school, and I promise you, it really does get better! They get themselves up and out the door, are never tardy, and it doesn't matter if I don't even get up. So there is light at the end of the tunnel for you! Good luck!