Want Help Getting Your Kids Out the Door On Time?

Are you burnt out from pushing your kids out the door in the morning?  What do you do to get them out?

A.  Scream at them to get going.

B.  Jump in and do things for them, like pack their backpack, or do their breakfast     dishes.

C.  Together develop a routine chart, and point to it when they are off schedule.

D.  Drive them because they have missed the bus, then walk in late wherever you are going.

Creating routing charts with your child can really help!  It will reduce power struggles by giving them more power over their lives, and increases their willingness to follow what they create.  So how do you start?

Begin by asking your child to tell you everything they need to do to get out the door on time.  If they are too young to write, you can write it down for them.  Together, you can make a morning routine chart.  Children love having pictures of themselves doing each thing on the chart, which they can then paste next to the task.  Let your child hang the routine chart where he or she can see it.  There are two examples shown, which were done by 3 and 6 year olds, with the help of their parents!

When your child gets off track or forgets, simply ask, "What is next on your routine chart?".  Many parents who took the Parenting the Positive Discipline Way class in Brookfield have said this has totally changed their mornings!

If you would like to learn more about what the Positive Discipline model, and how to raise respectful, resourceful and responsible children, and how to parent using Positive Discipline, check out our upcoming class schedule at www.positivedisciplinewesternct.org.

Positive Discipline of Western CT promotes and encourages the development of life skills and respectful relationships in families, schools, and businesses in our local communities. We will provide classes to parents, caregivers, educators, and youth development workers, teaching how to raise a child using Positive Discipline skills.