SAHMs of preschoolers, do you have a routine?

[cwnhokie]

I am trying to get my life more organized. We get up at 6 and still have trouble getting out the door to preschool at 9, the DIS probably has a little to do with this. But I'm feeling like we need a daily routine. We are flying by the seat of our pants, which is ok for me, but I think my boys 3 and 5 need more structure through out the day. Do any of you have a routine that you follow and would you mind sharing? Morning routine, daytime, evening? Do you have a schedule of activities, crafts, games or do you just let them play? Thanks!

 

[Nevergrow'nup]

Have you ever checked out flylady?? Her whole ideas are routine based. If you go to www.flylady.net she has alot of info.

 

[cwnhokie]

I have tried flylady and she does have a lot of good ideas, i was actually looking for something more directly related to a routine for the kids.

 

[Spinning]

First look at what slows you up in the morning.
If it is getting clothes on then lay the clothes out the night before.
Finding stuff that has to go to school:
Again put it in one spot the night before.
Tv? This waste a ton of time in the morning. Limit it have them get dressed first, breakfast, teeth brushed then TV time. Give a 10 minute warning before you are ready to leave.
If you are the problem, (which is the case for me!) I try the same routine as above!
Routine is good and especially good to get started early so when they are ready for elem. school it is less tramatic!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

2 Things that will make a difference...

"We get up at 6"...This would be the first thing to change. You should be up before they are, shower, get ready, then get them up.

The kids shower the night before and lay out clothes for school and pack backpacks. This comes in handy as they get older as well.

 

[EthansMom]

I have a 4.5 year-old and a 2 year old. We do have a bit of a routine. DS has preschool on MWF from 9 - 1. I usually will make DS's lunch the night before so that I have one less thing to worry about in the morning. Likewise, with packing anything for DS to take to school. When we're going to have an especially busy morning, I will lay out the kids' clothes the night before also.

We are up about 7 a.m. I usually hop in the shower first while DS4 watches PBS cartoons. If DS needs a breathing treatment for his asthma, I will set him up with that before I start my shower so that he's done about the same time I'm all dressed. After I'm out and dressed, I'll wake up DD2 and I put the kids in the shower together. While the kids are in the shower, I'll start laying out stuff for breakfast or will pick up in the bedroom/make my bed. I'll get DD dressed while DS dresses himself. Breakfast on school days is something fast to make like hot oatmeal, cold cereal, eggos, yogurt, etc. After we eat, there's usually time for the kids to watch a little more t.v. and for DD to get a breathing treatment, if necessary. We get on our shoes and coats at 8:30 a.m. and make it to preschool right about 9 a.m. I leave the dishes and stuff until I come home from dropping off DS.

I don't DIS in the mornings -- really can't turn on the computer or we're likely to be late.

I hope this helps!

 

[mickeyboat]

I'm not a SAHM, but I can relate. We can manage to get out of the house by 7:20 every weekday, but on weekends it's hard to get out of the house by 10:00. We have gymnastics at 9:15 now, so we have to boogie even sooner.

I find that I try to squeeze too many things into the morning, and if I just concentrate on what I absolutely have to do, I can make it. I always think I have time to throw in a load of laundry or vacuum the kitchen, but I really don't.

I also agree with getting up before your kids. It takes a lot less time to get something done (pack lunches, etc) when the kids are sound asleep.

Denae

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Have you ever checked out flylady?? Her whole ideas are routine based. If you go to www.flylady.net she has alot of info.

You beat me to it!

I would try to have as much ready the night before. Have clothes ready. Have breakfast ready or at least as ready as possible so you are not looking for everything. If they like cereal, have them on the counter. If they like waffles, have the syrup out. If it's eggs, have the plates out. Anything that saves a step.

At 3 and 5yo they can be getting dressed whille you work on breakfast and you can then help out with buttons, etc.

My youngest is now 6yo, but when my kids were younger I thought that mornings were the hardest. Actually, it's still hard with him. It takes him an hour to get out the door.

As for a daily schedule, I was never big into one. We had activities that we did, but not at a certain time. We kind of did what we wanted to do, when we wanted to do them. That was the nice thing about being at home. Of course the tendency is to flip the tv on too much, which I did find myself doing, so I had to watch that. That's when I would suggest playing a game, getting the play-doh out, going outside, etc. And then it would be naptime! When they outgrew naptime they always had a quiet time until they went to kindergarten, which was a good break time for me.