Basic Survival Steps for Mornings with Kids (to keep your sanity)

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Mornings with kids are not for the faint of heart.

You just put your feet on the floor and you are already needed and needed A LOT!!

Kids are high energy and ready to go as soon as their feet hit the floor.

If they don’t have some sort of direction to guide this energy, it’ll usually land on a sibling in the form of a fight or wrestling match.

This is where my Basic Survival Morning was born!!

It’s not complicated. Will not require much prep work from you. But, will allow you to grab a cup of coffee before your hear your name called half a dozen times.

Basic Survival Steps for Mornings with Kids

Step 1 – Have a Focal Point

This is an area that they automatically go to first thing in the morning. Could be the coffee table or your bedroom floor.

Ours is the kitchen table.

It’s somewhere we spend a lot of time. Plus, there’s a little more space and I know we’ll be there for a while.

Step 2 – Find Vacated Toys

Do not overcomplicate this. Think of some toys they have not touched in a while.

Go in their room the night before to look around and get some ideas.

Better yet, go ahead and grab a few of them to store away.

I like to keep some toys in a closet. The toys I choose to keep here are ones with multiple pieces that would easily get lost if I did not put them away.

This is usually where I go to get the toys for our morning.

Step 3 – Presentation

Once the kids are asleep. Put the items you chose out on your focal point area, so they are there in the morning. See, I told you low prep.

I like to choose more open ended play items like puzzles, building toys, figurines or are supplies. Because these types of toys lend themself to longer periods of play because it opens up their imagination.

Example: If I put out a Mickey Mouse talking toy. They might be more limited in their type of play. But, if I put out generic building blocks it allows their imagination to go a little further.

Maybe their building a castle but then it turns into a ramp. Then they decide to see who can build the biggest tower. You catching my drift?! The more they’re able to direct their play the more ownership and creativity they can have over it, which is what you want!

Our Favorite Open Ended Toys:

Magnetic Cube Blocks

These are so cool! My son got some from Christmas. Think Magna Tile but in a 3D form! All three of my kids have loved building with them!

Counting Dinosaurs

We have these but in bear form. I love these because they’re educational. Helping work on colors, sorting and fine motor skills. But, they also turn into character that they can play with. These have been a hit for years in our house!

3 Set of Puzzles

These are the most recent puzzles I bought becasue it came in a set of 3 for a great price. Plus, they were age appropriate for all three of my children.

Those are just a few ideas. But, there’s really no wrong toys choice you can make. You know your kids best.

Drink Coffee in Peace

Now that you have directed their attention to a proctive and age appropriate place. You are able to drink your coffee in peace or put away dishes, fold laundry, schedule that appointment…you know, all the things!

More Help with Sanity

If you’re needing a little more help with how to structure your day. Not perfect your day. No perfection required but structure it so that everyone knows what to expect and when to expect it.

Read all about Daily Routines (again no perfection) that’ll help give you a rhythm and sanity to your day.

Making Mom Friends is Awkward

I’m Lindsey, mom to 3 kids. My whole goal in this space is to connect with other moms and hopefully provide some hope and encouragement. along the way

Being a mom can be lonely, so I want you to know you matter and I’m really glad you’re here!