It’s a constant battle that no one is winning. You don’t want to have to nag your kids to get them out of bed to get ready for school and they don’t want to be nagged – but they don’t want to get up either. Is there a solution to ending the war and if the answer is “yes,” what is this magic formula? Well, there might not be any magic formula to get them up and at ‘em, but there are some simple ways to make rising and shining around your house a little easier.

Plan Ahead

The secret to a smooth morning routine is the night before. Preparing as much as possible for the morning the previous evening will take some of the pressure off your A.M. routine. Here are a few things you can do before they go to bed to make getting them up less frantic.

Plan what they want for breakfast and lunch. Whenever possible, make your children’s lunches at night rather than the next day.

Have your child or children decide what they will wear. Getting their wardrobes together will also reveal anything not readily available like clean socks or the specific t-shirt they had in mind. Laundry crises are easier to deal with the night before when time isn’t as much of a factor as it is in the morning. Make a “no-changing-your-mind” rule unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as an extreme change in the weather or an unforeseeable breakfast spill.

Pack the backpack or school bag. Have them double check that they will have everything they will need for the following day – homework assignments, gym shoes, books, etc.

Establish a Routine

Sometimes mornings can appear chaotic and hectic because they are. Establishing a routine helps everyone know what will happen ahead of time (if all goes according to plan). Particularly if you have two or more children, institute different wake up times (10 to 15 minutes apart); it will be easier on you and the high traffic areas of your home, like the bathroom and kitchen.

Set wake-up-call boundaries. For example, after the alarm clock rings, tell them you will only call them once – if they don’t respond the first time and you have to call them again, make it clear that there will be some sort of consequence, such as 15 minutes less TV or video game time for each additional time they need coaxing out of bed.

Set priorities and limit what is expected of them in morning before they have to leave. A list of chores or duties that must be done before school might pile on unnecessary pressure.

Make a place for everything and put everything in its place. Once the backpack is ready to go, put it in a pre-established place like the back door. Do the same for keys, your cell phone, etc. Whatever is needed, including coats, boots and mitts, to get you and your family out of the door on time in the morning, ensure that it is close to hand and easily accessible.

Planning ahead and establishing a routine for both the children and the adults in your family takes the guesswork out of sending them off to school in the mornings. It also makes dealing with the unexpected a little less chaotic.