I’ve used this simple type of kids charts for years. In the video I tell you that it’s so I don’t have to nag the kids or be all stressed out. That’s true, but it’s also so I can spend as much time in bed as possible – shh don’t tell.
All you have to do is type out a list of what you want your child to do every morning. Here’s an example of what is on our lists:
- Get Up
- Get Dressed
- Comb Hair
- Eat Breakfast
- Brush Teeth
- Wash Face
- Make Bed
- Read Bible
- Make sure no clothes or shoes are on floor of room
- One has feed rabbit; another has feed dog
I let my kids choose the order they want them printed in. The idea was to make it seem like it was their idea. I don’t care what order they do it in as long as they do it; and my kids don’t usually do it in the order it’s printed.
Then slip it into a sheet protector and hang it up somewhere. Have a dry erase marker and rag close by so they can cross off what they did and wipe it clean when they are finished.
When you first start you might need to have incentives [fancy term for bribes], but after a while it does become a habit. Now and then I still have to get strict and check up on things because they’ll start slipping on doing everything or just get sloppy when doing them. It’s normal – I don’t always feel like doing everything I should either.
And that’s a side benefit: If you want them to do those things every morning then you should be doing them too. Don’t put “Get Dressed” on their list if you’re not out of your night clothes before lunch. Believe me, they’ll notice if you set a double standard. Don’t add “Eat Breakfast” if you usually skip yours. OR – better yet – get your morning straightened out and be a good role model for them!
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