by Joan Celebi, Ed.M., CLC
Founder, SpecialNeedsParentCoach.com

Using a morning checklist helps mornings go smoothly in our family.  It helps both my son AND me stay on track.  Between wake-up time and the time he sets foot on the bus, there are plenty of opportunities to get distracted.  Having the checklist there to remind us of what needs to be done helps us avoid the last minute rush.

Here's my son's morning checklist - feel free to copy it, tweak it, and use it for your own children!  Don't forget to put things on it like medications, equipment checks, etc.  You'll see that it's deceptively simple: who doesn't remember to eat breakfast?  But part of the reason I think this works so well is that my son enjoys checking off the things on the list as he goes along.  (you could use stickers, too.)  If he gets credit for eating breakfast, so be it!  This one little strategy has made a huge difference -- our mornings are pleasant and cheerful since we started using the morning checklist!

Other things to consider:

where's the best place to keep your child's morning checklist?  (Ours is taped to the bathroom wall.) 

Do you want to attach an incentive to the checklist? 

Can your child help you customize the checklist, adding things they think are important?  (For example, my son asked me to put in line 13 about playing if there's extra time.  He also reminded me that he needs extra time to put on his shoes.)

What are some other situations when a checklist might help?  For example, we have a "before you leave for baseball practice" checklist that's not only helped us remember everything, but has also helped my son be more independent about getting ready to go.

If your child isn't reading yet, you can use pictures along with words on the checklist.

What are your tips for helping mornings go smoothly?