“AGHHH! We have to leave in five minutes!” I shouted. The sun hadn’t risen and apparently, neither had my two teens. “You don’t wanna be late for school!” I called again, not liking the shrill sound of my voice in the empty kitchen. But before I lost my mind altogether, footsteps came crashing down the stairs as the morning routine for school got underway.
If you’re like me, you struggle with the morning rush. Teenagers need a lot of sleep. But unless you’re up for petitioning the school board to start classes later, we have to work with what we have. With a few tweaks to your routine, you’ll be able to get those kids rolling and out the door in no time. Here are 7 ways to get teens moving in the morning.
1. Ease up on all the morning’s checkpoints.
To make the morning routine for school less stressful, I tell my teens to brush their teeth, but I don’t enforce it. At this age, it’s their responsibility. And because teens crave—and need—sleep, they can decide whether a quick rinse with mouthwash will do in order to get a few extra few minutes in bed. Current research in Scientific American tells us that “even 30 minutes of extra sleep would help alleviate some mental health concerns” in teens. So, I’m going to ease up on some things. It’ll mean less stress for all of us before they go.
Other things you can ease up on include bed-making, putting breakfast dishes away, and insisting they wear a different hoodie than the day before.
2. Reassess evening schedules and the bedtime routine.
Because teens get sleepier later due to a shift in their circadian clocks, it’s hard to send them to bed earlier. But staying up late doing homework or playing video games doesn’t prepare teens for sleep either. Reading, listening to music, or taking a hot shower can help. Also, for a better night’s sleep, teens should avoid large meals and caffeine close to bedtime. Dimming the lights and wearing clothes that’ll keep them cool helps too.
3. Make phone privileges consistent with morning cooperation.
“You have to get up!” I said, then spotted my son’s phone on the floor. Ugh. Usually, I remember to take it before bedtime. No wonder he couldn’t get up now. “If you want your phone back,” I said, slipping it into my back pocket, “you need to move.”
Sleep medicine expert Michelle Drerup explains that every time your teen checks his messages or alerts, he becomes more active and alert. “Even just a quick check can engage your brain and delay sleep.” Whether your teen’s on his phone at night or not, losing his phone privileges may be the incentive he needs to get going in the morning. Check out our Teen Cell Phone Contract to help teens understand your guidelines.
4. Introduce some extra-sleep tricks.
I’m not embarrassed to admit that on some mornings as a teen, I woke up in the dark, got dressed, and climbed back into bed until my mom came to get me. I’m pretty sure pediatrician Max Van Gilder would’ve liked my idea. He says teens should organize their mornings so they can sleep in “as long as is humanly possible.” Nice!
Other extra-sleep tricks include packing school bags the night before, showering at night, and eating and doing hair in the car (as long as they’re not driving!). As Dr. Van Gilder says, have your teens do “whatever it takes to squeeze in as much sleep as possible and arrive one minute before school starts.”
5. Use old-school tricks.
My mom had a record player, and she used to play Sandi Patty on high volume to wake up my sister and me. I wasn’t always happy, but it got me up. You could also put an alarm clock out of your teen’s reach, open the curtains, or bring her a glass of water. Try to stay upbeat to avoid arguments.
6. Be a sleep role model.
I have a hard time not hitting the snooze button in the morning, just like my teens. But I’m trying to get to bed earlier the night before. An hour before bedtime, park yourself on the couch with a book or another quiet activity. Avoid loud TV shows or other stimulating activities. If you want the morning routine for school to go better for your whole family, it helps to show them how to get to bed the night before.
7. Use incentives.
The best way for me to get my teens moving in the morning is to have breakfast ready. If sizzling some bacon is unrealistic, try the occasional treat like muffins or donuts from the grocery store. Food tends to lure teens out of bed, but if it doesn’t work for yours, what might? Can they earn privileges like screen time? A ride to school (versus the bus)? Their choice for dinner?
What’s your teen’s morning routine for school?
