Tips and tricks for starting the week on a positive note…
We all hate the Monday blues, don’t we? Our children have had a couple of days to be free and are not thrilled at the idea of going back to the school week and following the rules!
Here are 5 tricks to help Monday go more smoothly for you and your kids!
- Get ready Sunday night! – Start a ritual of making a special lunch for Monday, choosing an outfit, pairing the outfit with shoes and socks, gathering and consolidating school work, and pre-preparing a special breakfast for the morning. Pancakes and waffles or french toast casserole are big favorites for a breakfast to remember!
- Make a morning flip chart! – Allowing your young children to be responsible for their own hygiene and care sets them up for self pride and independence. An easy way to do this is with velcro. Make a small card for each morning routine your child needs to accomplish including brush teeth (With a picture of a toothbrush), brush hair (With a picture of a hairbrush), wash face, eat breakfast, gather school supplies, and put shoes on. Just watch the pride and independence blossom!
- Use the When/Then technique – Make it a standard in your home that when the required tasks are completed, that’s when the desirable tasks begin. “When you are done with your flip chart, then you can watch television until it’s time to leave.” “When you have brushed your teeth, then we will have time for a story.”
- Ask For Help – Children love to feel like they can be of service. As much as you do for them, they have few opportunities to do for you. Creating such opportunities will allow them to be the hero in your story for a change! A simple phrase like, “I’m feeling worried about being on time. Can you help me catch up?” can motivate children beyond your expectations. If you are met with less enthusiasm than you would like, make it a game of beat the clock (“Can we get everything else done before the timer goes off?”)
- Make the Weekends Extraordinary – Weekends are prime time for both family fun and relaxation. If your young child has something to look forward to on the weekend, their behavior during the week will reflect it. Remember not to pack too much into each weekend as you and your children need time to relax and recharge. Family time can look like anything from a picnic in the park, to a long trip together, to a pile of blankets and pillows and a cuddle puddle in front of a movie.
Regardless of how you spend your weekend, remember to use Sunday evening as an introduction to the new week. This will allow you to keep your children moving forward in the least upsetting, most positive way.