Getting to school on time
- Leah Corbett
- Jan 30
- 4 min read
Being on time for school plays a very important role in helping your child feel settled and ready to start the school day positively. Being there before the bell is the perfect time to strengthen the bonds between peers and feel a sense of belonging within the class.
Arriving on time means they’re walking into a calm space and can ease into the environment. (If you have a sensitive child it will be especially overwhelming if the school day has begun and they are rushing in.)
First thing in the morning is when any messages are shared about the plan of the day and if there's going to be changes to the normal routine for any reason this is when the teacher will talk about it.
This is a goal for all parents to work toward. Easier said than done… Children’s brains aren’t wired for the modern day rush. They are 100% in the moment so it can be a mission to get out of the house. Somehow the clock just races on in the morning and it’s a panic to get out the door. This is bound to happen to all of us from time to time and that is ok, but if it’s feeling like a constant daily struggle, then read on for some tips to try:
Get yourself ready before the kids. Yes, as hard as it is, set the alarm to be earlier than their usual wake up time and get yourself all sorted. At least if you’re fully done then you are available for what your kids need.
Simple easy breakfasts on the weekdays. Weekends can be when you experiment with different breakfast meals and for teaching them how to prepare their own cereal or butter their toast. If they wake up grumpy, prioritise breakfast and get it into them fast because they need food!
Choose their clothes the night before or have their uniform in the same place ready each morning. Have lunchboxes prepped the night before and extra things they might need e.g. swimming bag ready too.
Follow a routine - same, same every morning… wake up, toilet, get dressed, breakfast, hair, teeth, sunscreen, then play (if time). Always in that order.
Have a set time where play or craft or whatever they’ve got carried away with must stop eg: 8 o’clock you must stop, and then they get their lunchbox into their schoolbag, shoes on, then straight out the door.
Do a check out loud as you’re leaving - “bag” (they say “check”), “hat” - check, lunchbox - check, drink bottle - check. High fives! And for yourself “cellphone, wallet, keys” etc. This is great role modelling for their executive function skills.
Work out where the breakdown is in the getting ready process and figure out what you could do to help them enjoy the process. Children don’t really care about the end result the way we do! Do they need some music on while they brush their teeth? Do you need to sit at the table with them to eat breakfast at the same time? Could you sit with them and read a short book while they get dressed? You want them to want to do the ‘thing’ so make the ‘thing’ enjoyable! Connect with them with a little ritual so they genuinely want to do it because you’re doing it together. It doesn’t often work well when you bark out orders from another room. You only end up getting cross at them for not doing it. There is no motivation for them this way. Instead you’re better off staying with them for those few minutes connecting. Break the tension by being playful and silly, having a laugh and then directing what you’re wanting if it still hasn’t happened.
Have a chart with pictures of what they need to do in the mornings. This means less instruction and nagging from you. “Have a look at your chart to see what else you have to do.”
Look at your front door or garage space. Make it organised and simple. Get hooks for the bags and jackets, a shoe rack, a basket for the hats to go in. A place for sunscreen so it’s always easy to get. Make the space usable and predictable.
Celebrate at the end of the week if you got to school before the bell every day - take them to the playground after school or let them choose a takeaways dinner.
Be sure to give them days in the weekends and holidays where there is absolutely no rush, no nagging from you about “hurry up, get in the car, we have to go”. Comment that night at dinner about how nice it was to not be rushing and how good it is to have days like that when we can.
Remember that children are living in the present moment. They don’t have the concept of time like we do… When we’re leaving the house we’re already thinking of the 10am meeting we’ve got and how the afternoon logistics are going to go, let alone dinner prep! The mental load parents carry is huge! No wonder when the kids are holding us up we get annoyed. Allow WAY more time than you think it should take for every little task they have to do.
It’s a powerful thought that being punctual instils an attitude of inner discipline, shows respect to others, and leads to smooth, less stressful schedules for all. Help your child develop their sense of responsibility and organisation by being punctual.
