Morning routine for kids: a simple checklist that works

Why kids need a morning routine

In the morning everyone is tired and short on time. When your child already knows the steps, there's less to remember, fewer reminders and fewer arguments.

What to include

Keep it to the essentials and in the same order every day. Most morning routines come down to five things:

• ✓Make the bed
• ✓Get dressed
• ✓Eat breakfast
• ✓Brush teeth
• ✓Pack the school bag

Tips for smoother mornings

Prepare the night before: clothes picked, bag by the door. Wake up 10 minutes earlier than you think you need. Put screens last, as a reward for finishing, not first.

Let your child check off each step themselves. Doing it on their own is what builds the habit.

Hands busy? Use your voice

Some kids find it easier to follow a routine by voice. With Houtine on Alexa, your child can say "Alexa, open Family Routine", hear the next step and say "I'm done" after each one, without touching a screen.

Set it up in Houtine

1. 1

   Create a routine called Morning routine with a start and end time, on weekdays.

2. 2

   Add the five steps above, in order, and choose the points it's worth.

3. 3

   Your child follows it on a phone or tablet, or by voice with Alexa, checking off each step.

4. 4

   You see their progress live and approve the routine when it's done.

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Run your kids' morning routine with Alexa

Set up the Houtine AI skill in three steps, then watch Leo start his morning routine, hear each next task and check it off just by talking to Alexa.

Watch →

Questions parents ask