Hello!

I have already tried many things, including rewards and confiscating things he plays with instead of getting ready. Suggestions from other mums would be great!


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  • I’m tempted to laugh and ask you to tell me if you work it out… A couple of things that have helped improve our mornings are: you don’t get breakfast until you’re dressed. A list of things they have to do in the morning so they have to start taking some responsibility for themselves.


  • My sister in law has a terrible time with her 15 year old daughter every morning . We don’t know why as she prefers to rush like mad rather than get up a bit earlier . I think it might be a lack of motivation , similar if you hated your job and you just don’t want to attend . It also might be that they don’t know how to be organised and also she goes to bed late so maybe cut down late nights , but she does have a lot of homework so a hard one .I wonder if a child psychologist might help … ?


  • My kids used to watch TV of a morning while they got ready for school. But they got too absorbed in watching it, so I had to stop them, no TV til they were ready for school. Got my kids moving


  • We found that having a list of what he has to do in the morning posted on our pinboard helped – it seemed to keep him on track.


  • get up earlier and do things at leasure
    praise and reward each task with pleasure
    sing as you help him get ready for the day
    made up song on what you are both doing goes long way


  • It’s so hard and I don’t really have an answer. We deal with the same issue and at different times certain things work then they wear off.
    I never used to let them watch tv in the mornings but I think the best thing that workd for us was choding a tv show that comes on 15 minutes before you have to leave and letting them watch it if they have all their morning chores done. I also have a black board of the list of jobs they ned to get done.


  • make him wake up earlier so he gets ready earlier


  • Make a reward chart so for each day he’s ready on time he gets a sticker and if fill at end of week gets a reward


  • get him up earlier and do not allow tv or any other distractions until he is dressed and ready to go


  • there are some good comments here


  • With one of mine he has a bath at night as he is very slow of a morning, I also lay their clothes out for them and pack lunches and bags the night before. I yell a lot but it works for us (just like the army) Also they know that as soon as they have had breakfast and dressed they can watch telly until the bus comes. I guess the idea is prepare as much the night before as possible and don’t let them do anything else until they are ready for school (like play etc) Goodluck


  • The Principal at my son’s primary school has “offered” to pick up contant late-commers and bring them to school, maybe you could suggest this as an option.


  • Get all the necessary things done the night before and all you need to do in the morning is toilet, breakfast and get dressed and go.


  • You dont say how old he is but i think a part of it is being organised the night before.
    Have his school clothing laid out and ready to go along with his shoes and socks.
    Have is toothbrush with the tube of toothpaste sitting there ready and waiting.
    Stick to the same routine every day.
    Make sure all toys are cleared up and put away the night before…less temptation.
    Sort out whats for breakfast the night before and also pack his lunch the night before.

    How much time are you allowing for him to get ready and do you have other children that need to get ready as well? If not then make sure you are organised so that you can help him.


  • Print off a check chart and laminate it. Put on things like make bed, have breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, put on shoes and socks, pack bag. Use a texta that can be wiped off. After your son’s done all his “chores”, then allow him to do his own thing.


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