What do your children do between getting up, breakfast & before school starts....

[KristineIN]

I'm trying to get my children trained that they are not to play with toys. I'm getting ready to type out a list of what they must do, what they can do after they are done.

It includes,
Wake up, get dressed, make bed, eat breakfast, brush teeth.
But, they wake up and I'm not ready to make them breakfast, so it needs to be
wake up, make your bed, __________quietly (read, I've also got some Highlights and High Five (youngest magazine that grandpa got him) or what are some quiet things that you allow?

Then we eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth & start school.

Any suggestions?

I hope all of that made sense. Dh just does not want them playing, but often I still find my boys with, their beds not made, they are on the floor with Legos and they are being slightly noisy (not always but sometimes)

Thanks,
Kristine

[~Tara~]

My kids have a morning routine of:
Get up
Get dressed
Make beds
Tidy room
Tend to dirty clothes

Then they may proceed downstairs where Eldest now makes breakfast after tending to his other chores. (takes care of trash and will change the 'baby') The others have other chores to do..empty dishwasher/put away dishes, tidy living areas, help tend to baby, prepare table for breakfast.

Immediately following breakfast the older two go brush their teeth then down to start on school work. The 6 yr old must first sweep the floor..if he goes up to brush his teeth first, the sweeping won't happen ;) Besides, too many in the bathroom leads to disaster LOL

Before we started on this more chore oriented routine they were allowed to read quietly in the living room..they still had to be up and dressed, beds made..until mom was up and breakfast was ready. Then I would sometimes assign little jobs for them to do. But I expect them to be rather independent now..and it's working quite well.

Eldest took on the task of fixing breakfast every morning, all on his own. He would ask to help sometimes or I would ask him sometimes. But then he just took over. He's 10, btw. Fixes eggs, oatmeal or oatbran every morning for the 5 of them.

Our 'thing' here is that whether Eldest is making breakfast or I am..we fix breakfast, we serve breakfast. There will be no eating breakfast until X chores are finished. There will also be no waiting by the others for 'you' to complete your chores. We've had a few eat some cold eggs. That doesn't happen often. They don't like being left out. They enjoy having breakfast together...and warm LOL
And if they're especially lazy about it..their food may not be available by the time they get down there. That has only happened ONCE. It was taken impressively well. That child got their rear in gear the next day, I can tell ya that ;)

I don't know if I answered/helped any...but, there's what we do. My kids are 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 (today!).

[Meliss]

Hi Kristine

After my kids eat breakfast, they clean up the kitchen, wipe down a bathroom, and do their devotions before school. Here is a post that explains how I have solved my problem of keeping the kids on track in the morning: Musical Mornings (http://oursidehomeschool.blogspot.com/2007/02/wfmw-musical-mornings.html) This year I did the same thing, but burned a CD instead. Still works great!

[Meliss]

P.S. We phased out the rewards aspect of our morning routine, but the kids still stay on track with the music.

[Mekanamom]

Up
make beds
dressed in chore/outdoor clothes
breakfast
clean up dishes (load/unload dishwasher, wipe down counters)
animal chores (we have horses, chickens, and sheep so these are fairly messy chores)
showers (plus brush teeth)
dressed in school clothes
***generally by this time we either do lunch or a snack, depending on how quickly we got everything else done***
start laundry & set the roomba loose in a designated room (might as well get some more chores done while we're working on lessons)
School
Put away laundry; any other chores (we use the Motivated Moms chore planner)

They get to play and/or have leisure screen time when all the chores and lessons are done for the day. 3x/week they must spend extra time with the horses (grooming, riding/training) after lessons are finished.

That said, on holidays our schedule goes right out the window. :D

Quiet things that I allow when our schedule is not moving along at the regular pace:

Spelling cd (Calvert)
Online lessons (also Calvert)
Cosmeo (online educational site)
Any school reading or other independent school work
Rainbow Rock or Vroot Vroom math cd (Singapore Math; just started this!)

[Bee]

They get up at 7.They are supposed to get dressed,oldest dd takes the dogs out and gives them fresh water,youngest dd feeds the cats and gives them fresh water.Then they eat breakfast.When I am home I have to strongly encourage (nag) them to get going on their chores because they usually take forever to get dressed.Oldest dd wants to sit and read and youngest wants to sit and stare at the tv for as long as possible.Both take at least 20 minutes to get dressed every morning.I don't think either child is a morning person.Their dad says it's a good thing they don't have to get on a school bus;they'd never be ready on time.

[GothicGyrl]

Man, I must be one hippie mom or totally not with it... I don't require my kids to do anything except "get up, brush teeth, walk dog, feed other animals, make your own darned breakfast and leave mom alone until she calls school time".

Usually the tv goes on and they watch it while doing this stuff. We get up at 730, school at 9. I have my own routine I guess, which is I get up, open curtains in family room, say hello to my bird, turn off nightlight, "wake" turtles, fish, and hermit crabs and feed the turtles, then go wake kids.

This whole thing takes me 5 minutes. Youngest makes my coffee and that's it. :) I don't require "school" before school--that's just cruel. :)

[Michelle T]

DS has required jobs, he is to take his med/vitamins, make bed, feed cats and fish, get dressed. He must have breakfast.

After that, he can watch TV, use computer (if I'm not on it) or play on Wii until school starts at 9:30.
Michelle T

[Audrey]

For us it's morning chores. For ds it goes:

Get up
Wash face (helps with the waking up part)
Get dressed
Make bed
Put anything that needs washing in the hamper
Feed and water inside kitties
Go outside with Dad to lend a hand with farm chores
If he isn't needed outside, then he can help make breakfast
Eat breakfast

[Free Indeed]

Miracle music. Up by 7, school by 8. It has been a great help! :D www.miraclemusic.com

[umarider]

I, too, must be a hippie mom! My kid(s) also get up before me (there's NO WAY I am getting up at 6AM w/ my DD9!) Sometimes DD12 is up early, and other times I have to get her up (haven't gotten around to setting up the alarm clock she got for Christmas!). To lessen the daily nagging I made laminated cards that hang in their bathroom with the expected AM/PM activities ie: breakfast, teeth, wash face, get dressed & do cat chores before going on parent approved websites (Sara Bella, Webkinz, or Circle of Friends, which is a Pen Pal site) or watching TV. They use a dry erase marker to check off each item as they do it. They also know that if the dishwasher was run the night before and they empty it, Mom will be in a much better mood when she gets up! That's all they are expected to do.

Bear in mind that they have a mom who would rather read, sew, take a walk/bike ride or do pretty much anything (even mow the lawn!) rather than do housework, so I'm certainly not going to ask my kids to do that stuff while I'm still in bed! We all do those chores together in short bursts after schoolwork.

[Krista in LA]

Let's see, they get up, make their beds if they feel like it, make their own breakfast, put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher (unless it's clean in which case they unload it), get dressed, brush teeth and start school. If I'm not quite ready for whatever reason, they will start with something they don't need me for like their Spanish or reading.

[GothicGyrl]

Also, I must be the only mom who never makes the kids make their beds... I don't even make my own! :) I don't require them to brush their hair either--just their teeth after breakfast. Dishes wait until after school.

wow, I really am weird. :)

[Old Dominion Heather]

They get up and play quietly if there is time. Dh calls them for breakfast at about 8 a.m. After that, they get dressed and brush teeth and make beds, then do whatever until 9 when we start school. I can't see me making them do work while I am goofing off.

We are NOT morning people! (except for dh, but he is learning to live with the rest of us!)

[Tonia]

I've only got a 4 yo dd, and I am soooo not a morning person. She must play in her room until 8 o'clock and then she is allowed to come in and jump on our bed. Then I get up take a shower, unload dishwasher and get breakfast while she watches TV. I really can't function in the morning until I've had a shower and sat down to wake up for a few minutes. The tv keeps her occupied while I am coming out of my morning coma :p

[JudoMom]

Um, on a good day,when I'm on the ball, I get them up at 8, so there is no time for anything besides getting everyone ready for the day (eating, brushing, de-stinking, dressing) before we start school at 9. If anyone is up early, they can watch PBS Kids.

[Ellie]

Man, I must be one hippie mom or totally not with it... I don't require my kids to do anything except "get up, brush teeth, walk dog, feed other animals, make your own darned breakfast and leave mom alone until she calls school time".

Usually the tv goes on and they watch it while doing this stuff. We get up at 730, school at 9. I have my own routine I guess, which is I get up, open curtains in family room, say hello to my bird, turn off nightlight, "wake" turtles, fish, and hermit crabs and feed the turtles, then go wake kids.

This whole thing takes me 5 minutes. Youngest makes my coffee and that's it. :) I don't require "school" before school--that's just cruel. :)

I'm with you, Toni.

That's one of the great things about hsing...we can get up and gently get ready for the day, KWIM? I nudged my dc so they'd be ready for Official School Stuff around 9, or if it was library or field trip day, I'd nudge a little more to be sure we'd be out of the house on time.

But heck...if they were up early enough to play, more power to 'em.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Um, on a good day,when I'm on the ball, I get them up at 8, so there is no time for anything besides getting everyone ready for the day (eating, brushing, de-stinking, dressing) before we start school at 9. If anyone is up early, they can watch PBS Kids.

My kids must be quiet until 8 am (Mom is checking out the WTM boards and MUST NOT be disturbed!). Then they make their beds and get dressed. They watch t.v. or videos (each dc has an assigned day to choose what to watch- it's on the calendar so there are no arguments) while I shower and make breakfast. We have morning chores after breakfast until school time.

[freethinkermom]

We are not big morning people. Ds10 gets up at 7 to shower before me most mornings. Our water heater needs a break in between people. Some mornings he will get up really early (like 5) with his dad to play xbox before school since dh has to be at work around 6. Ds6 gets up at 7:15 for his turn in the bathroom. They both have to do basic hygeine stuff, make their beds, and feed the guinea pigs and fish, but that is not more than a few minutes work. We usually start school before breakfast because we all like to wake up a bit before eating. Breakfast is always light...toast and milk or juice, etc. We do not have broadcast tv (we watch shows on itunes, dvd, or streaming from the shows websites), so there is no temptation there. Video games are allowed before 8 as long as they are ready for school by 8:30 when I usually get up.

[Karenciavo]

My oldest boys like to sleep as long as possible. I wake them up after I'm am done exercising (7:15 AM). They come down, eat breakfast, go back up, wash up, get dressed, clean room, make bed, bring down laundry. They can hang out reading or chatting until school begins around 8:30 AM. We have a no electronics rule before school. They are also welcome to start school without me, but for some reason they never choose that option. :rolleyes:

[Mx5]

My kids are expected to play quietly when they get up. :)

My kids have their free time in the mornings. They play. They clean up after themselves. After lunch they hit the proverbial books and are done with schoolish things by 3pm.

We've always done it this way. Guess what? My almost 18yo son is respectful, prompt, intelligent and faithful to get to his part time job, as well as doing his coursework.

My 15yo dd is the same. My younger ones are still works in progress, but they are following along nicely.

I would encourage the original poster to be flexible with your children. If you don't get school going according to the clock, and if they've done their morning chores, then why can they not play until you're ready? That's the beauty and flexibility of homeschooling.

If they're loud and messy and crazy, that's another story.

[KristineIN]

Well, if it were up to me, I'd just let them play, but dh has said no playing before school, so we go with what he says. Today I made a box of fun educational stuff that they can do before school. I'll change it up every week.

Thanks.
Kristine

[cin]

I wake up at 7:00, when DH brings my glass of milk up before he leaves for work. I watch the news, read my Bible and sometimes doze until 8:00 when I get dressed and go wake THEM. Getting them dressed is enough in the morning. I do not require them to make their beds (I too, do not make mine!). I try to have them downstairs by 8:30 for breakfast, then brush their teeth and wipe off their faces and 'go to' school. I do their hair during that get dressed time. THey have no free time before school. DD3 is the slowest eater so when dd6 is done she is told to go start her math. :p Such a fun mommy!

[Adrianne]

I have to say our morning consists of doing your chores (getting dressed, make beds, brush teeth, breakfast dishes, etc) but otherwise they are allowed to play but no TV or video games. If the weather is nice, they go outside and play until school time.

My sons are young yet at 9 and 5. They are only young once and their time will come for responsibility.

Adrianne

[Janet in WA]

But, they wake up and I'm not ready to make them breakfast,By the time my children were school-aged, they were making their own breakfasts. No need to wait for me.

[GothicGyrl]

Well, if it were up to me, I'd just let them play, but dh has said no playing before school, so we go with what he says. Today I made a box of fun educational stuff that they can do before school. I'll change it up every week.

Thanks.
Kristine

And if it were up to me, I'd be showing this board to DH and telling him to back off. You AND those kids are going to burn out quickly and then what? He's going to blame homeschooling. Nope, no way. I'd be showing this to him real quick and we'd be having a much needed talk about expectations and burn out.

And, I WOULD win. :)

[Plaid Dad]

Several mornings a week I am already up and gone a-tutoring before dd wakes up, but generally she reads, listens to music (quietly), draws, or plays (again, quietly). Because of my work schedule, we're now doing lessons in the afternoon, so she has a long stretch of time to herself in the morning.

[KristineIN]

By the time my children were school-aged, they were making their own breakfasts. No need to wait for me.

I know, I know a lot of people that have their kids make their own breakfasts. We have a friend who has 10 children and her almost four year old will make his own pancakes :eek: I am not ready for my kids to have free reign in MY kitchen, I'm too picky about it, plus we eat a lot of homemade waffles, eggs and pancakes. Maybe I'll give it up, but for now, I like it this way. I make dh's breakfast every morning too. I love to cook/bake, so I do find it peaceful. I know, call me crazy! :D

Kristine

[Janet in WA]

I know, I know a lot of people that have their kids make their own breakfasts. We have a friend who has 10 children and her almost four year old will make his own pancakes :eek: I am not ready for my kids to have free reign in MY kitchen, I'm too picky about it, plus we eat a lot of homemade waffles, eggs and pancakes. Maybe I'll give it up, but for now, I like it this way. I make dh's breakfast every morning too. I love to cook/bake, so I do find it peaceful. I know, call me crazy! :D

KristineI used to be picky too. But I had to get over that if I wanted other things to happen (like my sons relieving me of a lot of responsibilities). Kids can make homemade waffles eggs and pancakes. Mine did.

[Johanna]

brush teeth, dressed, tv till everyone is ready to start school!

[Jan in SC]

My kids enjoy sitting around in their pjs for a lot of the morning. Some mornings they do all of their school work in pjs. They frequently laugh that it is awesome they are home doing school work in pjs and can then go to the park while most of their friends have been dressed and at school for hours!

Obviously, we are a little slack in our morning routine! They do not make their own breakfast and I'm ok with that. Of course, they are just 5,6,&7.

[WTMindy]

If they aren't up by 7:30 I wake them up. (If they get up earlier than that, they can read or play computer or whatever. They get dressed, make beds (they straighten up their room before they go to bed) and head to breakfast. They make their own, but I read to them during breakfast. I usually read a little after breakfast too, but my goal is to be starting school with teeth brushed by 8:30. Friday is jammy day and they can stay in their jammies as long as they want.

[SnowWhite]

I have a strict "no video games before school" rule, but other than that everything's free game.

I think you were quite creative to think of "educational quiet time" activities. If you keep lots of stuff in there (puzzles, coloring books, art supplies) and rotate it out all the time I bet your kiddoes will start to look forward to that period.

[Karen in CO]

Our morning routine goes something like this:
The kids watch tv or play on the computer until one of them (usually the little one that doesn't know better yet) wakes me then I turn off the tv and computer (for them) and get a big cup of coffee. We make breakfast and I start a morning read aloud while they eat then we do a memory time then morning chores and get dressed.

[Txmom]

to the table to eat breakfast take vitamins, brushes teeth and washes face. Gets dressed and makes her bed , she is 13:)

[JFS in IL]

DDs do take 10 - 15 minutes each to check their Webkinz and penguins on-line. Hey, if I have to have my newspaper and then check my websites (including this one) before I can function in the morning.....:-)

[Dayle in Guatemala]

My dc have chores before school and also have to journal and read their Bibles. We eat breakfast together after that and then start school. That seems to work the best otherwise it's chaos for me!

[Lolly]

We wake up, eat if they wish, brush teeth, and start school immediately. We don't tend to get dressed, but they are allowed to do that at any point they wish. Most days we all end up changing out of pjs at some point. Well, except for dd2. If we don't leave the house, she doesn't leave the pajamas!:D

[Krista in LA]

Also, I must be the only mom who never makes the kids make their beds... I don't even make my own! :) I don't require them to brush their hair either--just their teeth after breakfast. Dishes wait until after school.

wow, I really am weird. :)

That's exactly why I said they make their beds if they feel like it. It's not usually a requirement here although I have finally gotten in the habit of making my own in the past couple of years.

[Frontier Mom]

You really have it together here. We are really night people at heart and struggle to even have decent conversation around here until about 10.

I need one of you to come get us in shape!! I'm impressed.

[PinkInTheBlue]

The baby and the oldest both get up around 7:30 to 8. We all get up around that time because of that. School is around 9:30. If they get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, straighten room, make bed and brush teeth and it's not time or I'm not ready, they play or skateboard outside.

When they were younger they would be bears to start school with if I let them play first. They hated stopping their playing. After enough of it and reminding them to control their attitudes, it's not such a big deal anymore. Unless the oldest is really close to a new skateboard stunt. Then it's 'iffy'. :)

[Shannon831]

My kids wake up famished. We don't do any chores before school either. Our mornings are-

wake up
eat
get dressed (brush hair, teeth, ect)
start school

[gardenschooler]

My oldest used to get up early and often make breakfast for everyone, then wake us all up. She'd have a quick computer turn while doing that. I'd make breakfast (ok, brunch!) sometimes, if she didn't make breakfast. She did this on her own, not as an assigned chore.

Now that she's gone to ps for 10th this year, we have to take care of ourselves!

We've never done much in the way of chores before school (I do a few, but the kids do theirs later in the day). It's all I can do to get these two younger ones up by 8:00, so there isn't much time to do more than get dressed, and get your own breakfast (unless I'm up and really on the ball, but it's still more likely to be brunch than breakfast).

I've never allowed tv before school, except when they were little enough to not really be able to do much independent work (which is a low-stress way to start the day, IMHO). I always believed this was what PBS was for! Now, I usually assign a little reading for first thing to do in the am.

If I had a dh that worked from home (which I'm guessing might be the OP's situation, or maybe dh just wants them to 'work first, play later', which is not a bad idea to me), I would think the reading or listening to books on tape while coloring would be a good idea.

Or you could always just start school earlier. I sure would if mine were earlybirds - I like to grab 'em while they're alert! ;)

[ArwenA]

I've finally decided that we just can't start school as early as I wanted to. I'm sill trying to figure out a good time for us to start. I guess I'm another hippie mom all my kids do is:
Wake up when they wake up (I'm finished with the dragging out of bed)
Make their beds
Get dressed
Make breakfast, older dd helps little ones if I'm busy
Brush teeth, comb hair, wash face
Start school!

[Ferdie]

My two oldest are early risers so they do their morning chores, eat breakfast and then play together. We start school at 8:30 so they play right up to the starting time. Sometimes after an especially late night the middle child sleeps in so my oldest plays by himself or starts school early.

My youngest sleeps until I wake him up at 8:00am.

[shanmar]

LOL, I fall in the hippie department as well. I don't think my kids are actually awake when we start school. So all they do is drag themselves out of bed, and fall back asleep in the living room. I bribe them with hot chocolate and they slowly gain consciousness. It doesn't help that it is still very dark at 9:00 when we start school.

Meanwhile, as the only morning person in the whole family, I have been awake since 6:30 enjoying my coffee and quiet.

[umarider]

"Meanwhile, as the only morning person in the whole family, I have been awake since 6:30 enjoying my coffee and quiet"

Quiet... that's what I stay up late at night for! I love it after everyone has gone to bed and it's just me at the computer, with the dog asleep at my feet! But this would also explain my sleep-in attitudes towards mornings!

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

They get up around 7:30 and do their own thing until 8:45 when I expect them dressed and ready for breakfast then lessons start at 9 or 9:30.

I get up early to have my "alone time" and they generally spend the first hour of the day having their "alone time" -- keeps us from getting on each other's nerves.

I think Michelle T and GothicGirl are my cyber sisters.

[Pamela H in Texas]

I feel kinda weird going through this thread.

Now, it's just not an issue cuz they are big. They choose to start their stuff early because the earlier you start, the earlier you finish.

However, when they were young? I'd ENCOURAGE outside time (well, *I* didn't have to encourage because they just thought that is where they should be).

I wouldn't encourage a kid to be quiet before school time. That seems counter-productive on a couple levels to me. It seems that the longer they are quiet before school, the harder it would be to be quiet (mouth, movement, etc) DURING school. Also, brain science wise, as well as child development wise if we're talking kids under 8, it is best to have some good "hard play" and/or "sensory play" before academics. We have always broken up our day to have a healthy body and brain-body connection.

Anyway, again, so not an issue here as of course teens are plenty capable to regulate their own stuff in order to do what is best for them and get things done. But if I had littles or young elementary aged kiddos again, mine would be the ones running with the dogs, jumping on the trampoline, riding trikes, doing playdough or sandbox play, etc at 7 or 8am.

Oh, I forgot a couple things...My kids are also absolutely starving when they wake so that is first on the list. They do have chores but bedmaking has never been one of them (though a neat room IS so....). And I'm REALLY surprised how many people get their days started quite late.

Oh and no one messes with momma until mom starts talking to others :)

[Mx5]

It's good that you honor your dh's wishes. Have you talked to him about what you'd like to try, though? That is in no way disrespectful. I have sat down with my own husband and talked about his wish that the kids get up early, get working right away, etc. When I talked to him about this I was calm and chose a good time to talk (like when the kids were in bed, and we were just snuggling). The thing I pointed out to him was that the kids are respectful, joyful, and when I tell them to do something, they do it. Their schoolwork is done fairly well... I still have to prod my 13yo son... but oh well, ya know ;-)

The sticking point came last summer when our 17yo had to get up and out of the house by 7am to go to Driver's Ed class. Even I had my doubts that he'd be able to do it. But my boy set his alarm clock, got up on time, was cheerful and faithful. He got it done. So the idea that one must teach the kids from toddler on to get up early and get to schoolwork didn't pan out. I have noticed this, too, with our 15yo dd. I know it's anecdotal at best, but it did really settle dh on the fact that the flexibility of schedule in homeschooling really was a benefit, not a detriment that was breeding laziness or anything like that.

Perhaps you could propose a test run, like 1 week of having unstructured play time before school time? You can get at your mom chores without the pressure of having to sit the kids down for school. For me it's very freeing to have the morning to catch up on my own things.

Just a thought.

[Mx5]

Heheee... I am so there with ya! Late night people here, too.

[astrid]

Why can't they play? I realize you said that dh won't allow it, but why not? Playing with legos, the activity you mentioned, is not just "play." They are using lots of skills-- all of which are very important components of an education.

When are they allowed to play?

[KristineIN]

Why can't they play? I realize you said that dh won't allow it, but why not? Playing with legos, the activity you mentioned, is not just "play." They are using lots of skills-- all of which are very important components of an education.

When are they allowed to play?

They play all afternoon. Really, we are home most days, so they have the whole afternoon, weekends and evenings to play. Trust me, they have plenty of play time. Actually this morning went very well. They were so excited and wanted to know if they could color. You know what they got out, their SOTW activity guide pages and were working on those. I felt like we got a lot more done this morning that I have in mornings past. Really it makes no difference to me how the morning goes, just as long as we get done what we need to get done. This is just something that dh wants, and he doesn't really ever have much of on opinion, so when he does, I have to value it. He hardly makes any decisions about what I'm teaching, he just lets me choose what I want to do as far as classroom lessons. Thanks for all of the advice. It's interesting to see how everyone does things. We are a very diverse group! :)

Kristine

[Riverfront Headmistress]

Hippie mom here too. My kids do chores and turn on the tv. After about 30 minutes they'll fix themselves breakfast (and watch tv). Somewhere in between I wake up, get myself ready and fed, then call school. At this point, the tv is required to be off for the day.

[Jenny in Atl]

Mine get up mostly on their own, eat, brush teeth, do their reading, and practice for their music classes (recorder/choir). During this time I work out (my life saver time). Then for the most part we get started after lunch :eek:
Well we have a very early lunch ~ 11:30. School most days is 12-5.

[jillmurtagh]

I'm trying to get my children trained that they are not to play with toys. I'm getting ready to type out a list of what they must do, what they can do after they are done.

It includes,
Wake up, get dressed, make bed, eat breakfast, brush teeth.
But, they wake up and I'm not ready to make them breakfast, so it needs to be
wake up, make your bed, __________quietly (read, I've also got some Highlights and High Five (youngest magazine that grandpa got him) or what are some quiet things that you allow?

Then we eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth & start school.

Any suggestions?

I hope all of that made sense. Dh just does not want them playing, but often I still find my boys with, their beds not made, they are on the floor with Legos and they are being slightly noisy (not always but sometimes)

Thanks,
Kristine
Yikes. Mine are allowed to do whatever they want before noon (no tv, though). School starts after lunch; chores must be done before Papa gets home. That's it. If they want to do something special in the afternoon, then they must get schoolwork done early. Sleeping late eats into their play time, not school time. Guess what? they both choose to use their free mornings reading, writing or inventing something anyway. At ages 8 and 11 they've become excellent time managers (something I never learned in the school system) and take pride in getting their work done without being ordered about. You are setting yourself up for a revolution, sister.

[Amy in NH]

The big kids usually read, the little kids play and/or watch a video (usually Pooh Bear), and they all do some chores.

[DIY-DY]

Get up when you're ready (provided we don't have to be anywhere), make beds (b/c ds4 sleeps on a trundle, I've got to have the beds made and that thing pushed back in or somebody will trip over it! LOL!), and try to get dressed w/ clean underwear.

We fix breakfast together, or, if I'm on the ball, I'll fix it ahead of time. However, nobody eats until all creatures who depend on us for their food have been fed and otherwise tended to. ;) (The dog really appreciates this rule.)

When the weather's nice, they're outside. We eat on the front porch most mornings from mid-spring through mid-fall. Then, I can bring them in for school when they clear their spots. :D When the weather's not-nice (like today) or they are sick (again, like today), we stay in our jammies and really go-slug. I don't think any of us have made our beds this morning b/c it's colder in the bedrooms than it is in the living room and we could hardly wait to get out here and warm up. LOL.

[KAR120C]

DS has a list on his door that says he's responsible for getting dressed, brushing his teeth and feeding the cat, but actually since he wakes up around 6:30 or 7 (gotta be up before Pokemon comes on! LOL) and we don't start school until 8 or 8:30, he's got an hour or two to get all that done. Usually on commercial breaks. I used to make him breakfast in their somewhere but now that he can handle a gallon jug of milk or a kettle of hot water without dumping it all over the counter he makes his own breakfast most mornings. ;)

I need a couple cups of coffee and my email read before I can start the day properly, so it works for us. If I didn't want him watching TV or playing I'd probably have him leave a stack of books on the coffee table... but I think he'd just fall back asleep if he didn't have the draw of watching Pokemon.... LOL

[Margaret in CO]

Here, unless dh had to work early and checked the sheep and cows before he goes to work, oldest dd still at home goes and checks for lambing or calving problems at 5:00 am. She often goes back to bed--I don't blame her! Right now, we're not quite to calving, so just sheep. I get everyone up at 7:30; we eat. Then oldest dd heads out to feed calves, steers, haul water, feed ewes, vaccinate and weigh anything being turned out for the day, let out chickens, strip lambing jugs, doctor whatever--right now it's a ewe that prolapsed that is on antibiotics. This time of year, she often doesn't begin bookwork until 10:30. If dh worked early, Uncle Paul comes home from driving schoolbus and then the gang feeds the big herd. The other two, do dogs, cats, shovel walks, shovel coal, take my letter to the mailbox (I write the dd at USNA every night) and start inside chores. We never start bookwork until 9:00 at the earliest. If we have a lambing wreck we might never even GET to bookwork! We don't have a tv that works, so that's not a distraction. Sometimes my ds will get up early to play a computer game. No playing in the morning--there are hungry animals!

[AmyinPA]

As soon as b'fast is over and table cleared, we start school. Usually by 7:30. If on a bad day, there is dead time, I make sure to give them chores until school begins.

[6packofun]

One of the hardest things for me when I was a child/teen was getting up early for school and not being able to ease into the day. I'm not a morning person and my dh and kids aren't either! We try to get up *just* early enough to be able to waken fully, putter around a bit and get our attitudes on straight before school! I know that in part I do this because of how poorly suited *I* was to the public school routine (and lack of challenge, but that's another story), but really it just makes sense for us.

We get up, get breakfast and after one chore each, my kids can do what they want until school starts at 10. Oldest 2 sometimes check email, youngest school-age ds likes to do a little bit of BrainPop Jr. I have Sprout on t.v. for the toddler or the news on for me and the older ones. I savor my morning Dr. Pepper and my girls will often work on a craft project for their free 30-45 minutes before we get down to business.

Life is so much nicer this way. :) And I like showing our children that life can happen in whatever way we choose! The 9 to 5 life is NOT a given if it doesn't fit. (Not that there's anything wrong with it.) Flexibility within a loose routine is paramount in our lives. It helps us to be available for so many more opportunities, not the least of which is serving others. Again, that's another topic. lol :D

[ThelmaLou]

My older boys get up, read their bibles, memorize verses, get dressed, clean room, and eat breakfast. Then they start on math. All that before I even roll out of bed. My next two don't get up until I come get them. Then they lay around under blankets in the living room until I force them to get up and eat breakfast. Occasionally, my ds# 3 will request to do his math before breakfast because he doesn't like to eat right away. Sometimes when I get up, I'll find my oldest two only half-way doing their math, and half way tinkering with magic tricks they want to perform for their brothers. But they get up so much earlier than I do, I'm pretty forgiving when I find them playing around that early. As the day progresses, I tend to crack down.

[Quiver0f10]

They get up and groom, then it's eat and mornng chores. If we don't start school right away they read or play until Im ready to start. We used to allow TV and computers before school, but then nothing was getting done LOL.

[CalicoKat]

Hi Kristine

After my kids eat breakfast, they clean up the kitchen, wipe down a bathroom, and do their devotions before school. Here is a post that explains how I have solved my problem of keeping the kids on track in the morning: Musical Mornings (http://oursidehomeschool.blogspot.com/2007/02/wfmw-musical-mornings.html) This year I did the same thing, but burned a CD instead. Still works great!


I love the idea of customizing it, but I'm desperate enough just to make use it until I can get around to re-inventing the wheel!!! Please PM me with this information.

Thanks,
Calico

[dirty ethel rackham]

I made a daily routine checklist and laminated it. It had a morning routine. I didn't care where breakfast was on the routine (since they make their own), but they had to have everything checked off by 8:30 so that we can meet on the couch for prayer time. Before my daughter could read, I made hers with words and picture cues. It has go to the bathroom, breakfast, brush teeth, hair, make beds, plus one daily chore (usually empty the dishwasher or wipe down a bathroom.) It takes me being the drill seargent to make sure it is done. On days when I am occupied or tired, it doesn't always get done.

We have a couple after lunch chores and an afterschool routine (so that we can get the books put away!) I also have an after dinner routine and a before bed routine.

Do all these get done? Well, when good, organized mom comes out, yes they do, with lots of prompting. When sleepy, cranky, PMS mom comes out, a few of these get done, LOL!

[PrairieAir]

I never could get my boys to follow a morning schedule well. The girls have always been more organized and helpful with household chores in the mornings.

Now that the oldest three are in public school, they know they have to set their own morning schedules and abide by them in order to get to school on time with everything they need. I only make sure they are up because sometimes they don't hear their alarms. Having goals that are important to them rather than me has been helpful in getting them going in the mornings.

15yodd cares about looking nice when she goes to school, so she is up early to shower, dress, and put on makeup. She has not been so good about getting her laundry put away, bed made, and room cleaned lately, so we have told her she must have these things done before she does anything after school with her friends.

17yods has been very committed to getting up early when he wants to go in to school early to lift weights. Recently he and 13yods have set up an exercise and lifting schedule for mornings and evenings. I'm staying out of that. If they want to do it, they will have to be motivated enough to do it without me prompting them.

11yodd is still homeschooled. She is my morning child and the most self-motivated. She sometimes wakes up around 4 a.m. to do quiet reading and work on some of her other school work for the day. Then she will go back to bed until 6:30 or 7:00. When she gets up for the day, she dresses, makes her bed, and goes out to feed the horses, dogs, goat, and cats. This is her chore Mon.-Thurs. mornings and the other kids split it up between them evenings and Fri-Sun. mornings. (They have late start at school every Friday.) Most mornings, dd does these things without whining and without being asked. Often she fixes her own breakfast, heating pancakes I've made and stored in the fridge or eating cereal or toast and fruit. Then she gets right on to the rest of school so she can be done. I have no control over this. Either she is motivated for the day of her own accord, or it's like pulling teeth to get through everything. Fortunately for me she's a very easy kid most days.

I tried for years when I had all of the kids at home to get them to follow a schedule. It was hard, particularly with oldest ds. He hated having someone else dictate when and how he would do things. (And he thinks he wants to be a Marine!) He even resented the use of the word "chores". Also, the youngest is the only one who is truly a morning person like me. That made mornings pure hell since I thought everyone should be up and at 'em ready to take on the day at the same time I was.

I wish I had been a little more relaxed back then. I wish I could have figured out the balance between allowing chaos to reign and being a complete control freak. At least they all seem to have turned out okay. I'm sorry if this isn't much help, but there's my experience anyway:D

[CalicoKat]

thank you for posting this thread. :)

[OnTheBrink]

Honestly, she plays Animal Crossing while I check email, make breakfast, read boards, etc.

Our school day starts at 9:30 when the toddler I babysit goes down for her nap. We do school for two hours, have lunch, play with baby and finish school when the baby goes down for the pm nap.

I wish I were as structured and organized as some of you! I may try the morning chore chart thing. I'd love more info on the miracle music thing!

[CalicoKat]

Miracle music. Up by 7, school by 8. It has been a great help! :D www.miraclemusic.com (http://www.miraclemusic.com)

http://www.childrensmiraclemusic.com/

[OnTheBrink]

http://www.childrensmiraclemusic.com/

thanks!

[Jami]

Well one seriously early bird who wakes everyone in the nest. ;)

Ds gets up sometime after 6 usually. He's supposed to stay in his room till 7 and not wake his sisters. He's getting better at that. Sometimes he makes himself a bowl of cereal once it's 7. Then dh gets up with the kids and makes them breakfast while I shower, make the bed, have time to think thoughts alone.... Let's see...after breakfast they all get dressed, brush teeth, make beds, tidy rooms a bit if needed, unload dishwasher and do other chores I may have for them. I usually check email and eat breakfast while they're doing these things. I was letting them play a bit before starting schoolwork, but grumbling about starting was increasing, so now we leave play for after lessons and violin practice. We're usually at our books by 8:30 or so. On a good day. :D

Jami

[Eliana]

I'm trying to get my children trained that they are not to play with toys. I'm getting ready to type out a list of what they must do, what they can do after they are done.

It includes,
Wake up, get dressed, make bed, eat breakfast, brush teeth.
But, they wake up and I'm not ready to make them breakfast, so it needs to be
wake up, make your bed, __________quietly (read, I've also got some Highlights and High Five (youngest magazine that grandpa got him) or what are some quiet things that you allow?

Then we eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth & start school.

Any suggestions?

Our kids have a simple morning routine:

Negel vasser (ritual morning hand washing)
get dressed
make bed
brush teeth (and hair)
report to Ima


Once they do those things, they may read or play or get an early start on their independent school work (they may not turn on music or story tapes where they could disturb someone who is still sleeping, and they may not play in the hallway (don't ask)). The older kids daaven (pray) before recreating, but there are no other special limitations.

When we have a quorum, so to speak, breakfast is made and eaten.
The little ones daaven with me or an older sibling.

Sometimes some or all get started on schoolwork right away, other times we (or they) play games or read or my older kids might take a walk.

We used to have a very firm routine, but then we discovered that we could be more relaxed and still get things done... and everyone is so much happier, both in general and with their schoolwork.

My eldest two have the most to do, obviously, and they know they are responsible for making sure they get it all done before dinner (they have outside classes and activities in the evenings), and, in general, they do a fabulous job. Occasionally they misjudge and have to be late for their evening activity, but not often. (They also know not to expect me to be available at a second's notice for the things they do with me!)

Throughout the day, as I see someone is available, I invite him/her to come 'do school' with me - this generally gets a very enthusiastic response. My middle two have work to do on their own after their individual work - they need me to keep a bit of an eye on them, but they too do a good job taking responsibility for getting their school work (and their household jobs) done before dinner.

Our family learning things are more spontaneous than they used to be too... sometimes we do those right after daavening, or right before or after lunch, or in that lull in the mid-afternoon... it is very organic.

One of the gifts of this approach has been a better melding of work and play and a greater sense of ownership and responsibility from the kids.

I don't think I would have been comfortable with this when we first started out, but we're our eighth? ninth? year of this and this is what we've evolved into.

I guess the downside is that, unless we have somewhere special to be in the afternoon, we don't push through and get everything done before lunch... the whole day is school time, in some sense.


Eliana

[Chris in VA]

I *knew* I liked you--I don't make my bed either.
Unless my mother is here.

lol

[GreenKitty]

They:
Wake up
Morning stuff (teeth, beds, etc.)
Chores
Read until studies start

[CalicoKat]

LOL, I fall in the hippie department as well. I don't think my kids are actually awake when we start school. So all they do is drag themselves out of bed, and fall back asleep in the living room. I bribe them with hot chocolate and they slowly gain consciousness. It doesn't help that it is still very dark at 9:00 when we start school.

Meanwhile, as the only morning person in the whole family, I have been awake since 6:30 enjoying my coffee and quiet.

my kids are up before the rooster crows (5:30 a.m.)

[Elizabeth TN]

we started a new schedule today and it worked pretty well. They get up, get dressed, make beds, and clean their rooms while I am making breakfast. After breakfast, we clean up and get the rest of our housework done before school. This way, we don't have to worry about it during the day.

[nutmeg]

For the first 7 years of our homeschooling experience, my dh's job did not start until 10am. So 10am is our school start time. Old habits are hard to break.

We use the morning hours to wake up slowly, linger over breakfast, check the email/Webkinz, read the funnies, maybe get in a round of Blokus. You must be fed and dressed before sitting down to the books at 10, but otherwise, no rules.

[Kris]

Let's see, they get up, make their beds if they feel like it, make their own breakfast, put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher (unless it's clean in which case they unload it), get dressed, brush teeth and start school. If I'm not quite ready for whatever reason, they will start with something they don't need me for like their Spanish or reading.

This is pretty much our routine, too, i.e., get up, wake up and start school. There's no playing until school work and chores are done, some time in the afternoon. Otherwise, I've found there's plenty of playing going on and very little else.

[momo4]

They do their chores. Empty the dishwasher, kitchen trash and all other trash cans, recycling, and bring clean clothes upstairs. After chores is music for one ds. If they are done before breakfast they go on to school work.

[mcconnellboys]

We get up and get dressed, brush teeth, etc., and eat if we want, or make tea, then get started. There's no down time before we start. Down time is all in the afternoon/evening.

Regena