Parents spend 10 hours a week trying to get their kids ready in the morning

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Those of you who have pleaded with a toddler to go ahead and put their other arm in the sleeve probably won’t be surprised to learn that a survey showed parents spend 10 whole hours a week trying to get their kids ready for the day.

Back in August 2018, Nutri-Grain surveyed more than 2,000 parents about their morning routines, and it turns out that getting the kids out the door and off to preschool, daycare or grandma’s house is easier said than done for many moms and dads.

The survey found insights such as:

  • Parents remind their kids to brush their teeth, get their shoes on, etc. at least twice every morning.
  • The words, “hurry up” are spoken at least 540 times by the end of the school year.
  • Forty-three percent of women put on their makeup during their commute due to lack of time for themselves, while 52% of men shave on the way into work.

Sound like mornings in your household? You’re certainly not alone!

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Despite the fact that the survey came out last year, the results resurfaced again recently. It makes sense. Seeing the school year come to an end can definitely lead you to reflect on how you’ve spent the past 10 months.

According to Patricia Henderson Shimm, parent educator and author, this is a common problem for parents, and there’s no one “right” way to go about coping with a kid’s unwillingness to get ready, but she does advise that parents stay calm throughout the process:

“Instead of letting him see that his behavior is ruffling your feathers, stay calm,” she wrote for BabyCenter. “One strategy that works well is to give your child no more than two choices — say he can wear either his fun red overalls or his sporty sweatshirt and pants.”

She also suggests planning for this to happen as much as you possibly can:

“Toddlers also don’t respond well to being hurried, so if it’s at all possible, try not to make mornings a big rush,” she wrote. “Instead, you may want to wake up half an hour earlier or choose outfits the night before so you don’t waste time with that decision in the morning.”

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An article from Aha! Parenting suggests giving your little one something about their morning routine to look forward to, especially while establishing an emotional connection. They note that kids tend to struggle transitions — and morning are full of them. How can you ease those transitions for your child?

Testing out these methods can make mornings a little easier on everyone, especially if you can establish a pattern before the next school year rolls around.

Hats off to you, parents!

Family & Parenting, Parenting, Tips & Advice
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About the Author
Augusta Statz
I have a B.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I’m an avid writer with a genuine sense of curiosity. I feel the best way to absorb the world around you is through fashion, art and food, so that’s what I spend most of my time writing about.

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