Last week I
talked a bit about my morning routine, and the fact that I need one in order to
survive! But, I do have one rather large
problem that I have to contend with in my morning routine – early
risers.
talked a bit about my morning routine, and the fact that I need one in order to
survive! But, I do have one rather large
problem that I have to contend with in my morning routine – early
risers.
Both of my children have always been early risers. I do not know why this is. All I know is that we finally figured out
it didn’t matter if they went to bed at 7pm or 10pm, they would be up by
6am.
it didn’t matter if they went to bed at 7pm or 10pm, they would be up by
6am.
This isn’t always the case.
Sometimes they will sleep later; sometimes they will wake up
earlier. Recently, Emma has been on a
5:30am cycle, and that is too early. She
is six and does not understand why mama can be out of bed but she cannot. The same goes for my little guy. He is actually better at sleeping in until
around 7, but often he will be up early just because his sister is up.
Sometimes they will sleep later; sometimes they will wake up
earlier. Recently, Emma has been on a
5:30am cycle, and that is too early. She
is six and does not understand why mama can be out of bed but she cannot. The same goes for my little guy. He is actually better at sleeping in until
around 7, but often he will be up early just because his sister is up.
I, of course, still want to have my quiet time in the
morning. That is why I am waking up so
early in the first place! It doesn’t
make sense for me to get up early just to have the kids follow me downstairs 15
minutes later. I would get nothing
accomplished that way. So, my new idea
is to make a Good Morning Basket for each of the kids.
morning. That is why I am waking up so
early in the first place! It doesn’t
make sense for me to get up early just to have the kids follow me downstairs 15
minutes later. I would get nothing
accomplished that way. So, my new idea
is to make a Good Morning Basket for each of the kids.
I recently read about this idea on the Inspired to Action
blog. I really liked all of Kat’s ideas,
but with my kids being a little younger, I needed to change what was available
to them in the basket.
blog. I really liked all of Kat’s ideas,
but with my kids being a little younger, I needed to change what was available
to them in the basket.
One of the big things for my daughter is that she is starving
in the morning. It seems that without
fail she is hungry as soon as she wakes up – much like her dad. Jack likes to wait an hour before he eats
breakfast – much like me. They are too
little to get their own breakfast yet, and I typically make something
relatively hearty like oatmeal or scrambled eggs and toast; neither of which they
can make on their own. I decided that I
would include a little morning snack that the kids can eat before
breakfast. We are home all day, so I am
not all that concerned about specific times to get out the door, if you are,
then perhaps you will want to lay out what the breakfast is going to be for the morning.
in the morning. It seems that without
fail she is hungry as soon as she wakes up – much like her dad. Jack likes to wait an hour before he eats
breakfast – much like me. They are too
little to get their own breakfast yet, and I typically make something
relatively hearty like oatmeal or scrambled eggs and toast; neither of which they
can make on their own. I decided that I
would include a little morning snack that the kids can eat before
breakfast. We are home all day, so I am
not all that concerned about specific times to get out the door, if you are,
then perhaps you will want to lay out what the breakfast is going to be for the morning.
The snacks that I provide are typically dried fruit, dates,
nuts/seeds; kind of a trail mix without the chocolate.
nuts/seeds; kind of a trail mix without the chocolate.
Then there are the activities. I wanted something that the kids would find
enjoyable, and keep them occupied for a little while. I also wanted to be able to show them how I
was having quiet time, to give them something to model when they are
older.
enjoyable, and keep them occupied for a little while. I also wanted to be able to show them how I
was having quiet time, to give them something to model when they are
older.
What I included in our Good Morning
Basket:
- Puzzle – my kids love puzzles, and
these are small and easy to keep together, mainly not a lot of pieces - Coloring/activity book
- Fancy pens/markers – only for use with the Good Morning Basket
- Books – which I will switch out so
they have something new to look at - Journals – my older is starting to
write on her own a bit, and my younger likes to pretend he is writing on his own - Early Reader’s Bible – for Emma
who is reading now, but still needs some help.
I thought this might help her to be more intentional about a quiet time
for herself - Mini Magna Doodles – my kids love these
Now, most of these items I found in the $1 section at Target,
so it was not a lot of money up front. I
got quite a bit of stuff, but that was mainly so that I could switch out things
as needed. I hope that this helps
alleviate some of the stress in the mornings for when the kids wake up super
early. If they have a basket ready for
them, they should be able to self-entertain for 30 minutes without having the
world crash around them (which it seems to some mornings!).
so it was not a lot of money up front. I
got quite a bit of stuff, but that was mainly so that I could switch out things
as needed. I hope that this helps
alleviate some of the stress in the mornings for when the kids wake up super
early. If they have a basket ready for
them, they should be able to self-entertain for 30 minutes without having the
world crash around them (which it seems to some mornings!).
Just a note, my children are six and almost four, obviously you would not need a Good Morning Basket if you have a baby you are nursing, although it might be nice to make yourself one! Add age appropriate items if your children are older.
Next week I hope to give an update as to how this is working
for us, as well as how I started getting up earlier to begin with!
for us, as well as how I started getting up earlier to begin with!
Have you made a good
morning basket for your children? Is it
something that your children enjoy? Is
it something you might try to make your morning run a bit smoother?
morning basket for your children? Is it
something that your children enjoy? Is
it something you might try to make your morning run a bit smoother?
I love this idea heather! I too, have an early riser, I just may have to borrow this idea :). Love putting a healthy snack in too. Thanks for the idea!
This is such a great idea. My girls are the same way, and my mother says so were my siblings and I, always up at the crack of dawn..
Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
I love this, Heather! I need to make one for myself too :), maybe with my devotional, Bible, some "good morning" chocolate, a tea bag… My son is 11 and loves to play video games when he first wakes up. I think I'll make him one with some better activities to do before he grabs a screen. Thanks for a great idea!
My kids are the same way! Or at least my 4 year old daughter. No matter early to bed or later she is still up by the crack of dawn but I've gotten some reprieve over the past few weeks as she's making it till about 7!! Your basket idea is great! I will have to try putting something like this in place!
I definitely recommend it! The kids are really enjoying it so far!
Great idea – I love that they have a little snack in there to keep them satisfied too, genius 🙂
What a fabulous idea!? I work afternoon/night shift so I really need to sleep until 9am just to get 6 hours! In the school holidays this can be difficult with the kids either playing loudly or bickering so I may need to think about one of these!!!!
What a wonderful idea! You're children sound great.
Thank you! I think they are pretty special 🙂
This is a great idea! I used to place a banana and book by the bed each morning to get extra time but I never thought of placing goodies in a basket. I would probably make sure it wasn't available to them any other time of the day or it would lose its luster 😉 Heather, I would love if you shared this post on our link up this week! I know others will love this!
http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-art-of-home-making-mondays-please_30.html
Have a wonderful week ~ JES
We definitely have made the decision to put them away right after quiet time – which for us is right when Daddy leaves for work around 7:30am. I don't want them to use up all of their goodies in a day! Thanks for inviting me to link up, I just did!
Thanks for joining in! I hope you link up with us again next week! And glad to see the goodies get put away to keep them special 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend ~ JES 🙂