Every day is a little bit different in our houseโand everyoneโs house.
But deep down, we all thrive on consistency, on patterns, on schedules.
Iโve always been a big fan of implementing a daily schedule for kids, even when parents are home and kids arent yet in school, incorporating some sort of routine is good for the soul.
When Maddy, Owen, and Cora were youngerโactually up through this past summer, even, we scheduled a necessary โrest timeโ into our day.ย More for Cora, who at 5 years old still needed 30 minutes or an hour to herself, our rest time after swim practice and lunch (but before we headed back out to play) was an eagerly anticipated part of our day.
For kids and mom.
But during the school year, our mornings and evenings need some sort of schedule.ย Otherwise, I sound like a broken record and the kids start seriously tuning me out.
And because I have two readers and one emerging reader, I decided to create a little reminders for my kids–easy-reader style so that everyone can decode on their own.
Here’s the skinny. . .
- Morning and Evening Reminders for Kids– Easy-Reader Style: They’re easy-reader style only because they have words and a related image alongside, not because they include only easy-reader words.
These are simply ‘Good Morning!’ and ‘Good Evening’ signs that the kids flip back and forth to remind them of what they need to do each morning and night.
Morning reminders. . .
. . . and Evening Reminders help teach my kiddos what they need to do at the beginning and end of the day.
I’m trying my best to give them more freedom–more independence and autonomy over their days–and I think that this gives them what they need to do and allows them the wiggle room to do it on their own.
Do we have a little incentive to get them through this list? Absolutely. If they do all of these things without me having to remind them for a few days in a row, it’s a gem in the Gem Jar.ย ย If they need constant reminding, we’ll take one out.
Simple as that.
Want to download the Morning and Evening Reminders for Kids for your own hizzouse?ย
Here it is:ย teachmama morning evening questions 2.0
(If you choose to share it–and we hope you do!–please link to this post instead of the attachment page! Thank you!)
teachmama morning evening questions 2.0
And that’s it–just a quickie little trick to throw in your back pocket–and to (hopefully!) save your voice from yelling and prodding and gently reminding. . .
Any other suggestions? Please let me know what works–or has worked–for you! I’m always willing to learn how to make this crazy parenting gig a little more softer for my old bones!
I have SO been needing something like this. My night owl now starts school at 7:30, kinder, and I really would like to teach him some independence in getting ready for school. So perfect! Plus….5 gems everytime he does his morning chores. Thank you.
YAY!! Rachael–please let me know how this goes for you–and how YOU manage it, too–so hard for us all to learn new routines! Letting go–for me–is awfully difficult sometimes!
What a great idea. There are heaps of parents that would benefit from this schedule plan. Parents of ASD child are always looking for these what to do lists.
Thanks you.
Thank YOU Ann, for writing and for your kind words. So totally appreciated, my friend!!
Love it! Especially the bucket filler!
thank you thank you thank you, Dana!!! Next up: the morning / afternoon list in espanol.. . .
I just discovered your blog through Pinterest. I love it! And…I also have a “Maddy”! You don’t see a lot of those! ๐
DAWN!! We’re soul sisters. Yay! Glad you found me and I found you. . . and now we can be Maddy-moms together from here on out!