Our Morning Routine

One thing about having a lot of people in the house - it is important for us to have some type of formal schedule to follow.  Everyone just doing their own thing until breakfast results in chaous. I considered how we normally did things, and I watched several videos on youtube in search of the best morning routine for our family.  Finally, we had a family meeting and all agreed that the following is what our morning routine would be.

1.  Grooming and getting dressed
2.  Clean your Zone
3.  Quiet time
4.  Act of Kindness
5.  Exercise
6.  Breakfast
7.  Read/Go to the "circle" and play

The kids are allowed to wake up as early as they would like; but (other than to say good morning, grab a book or two to read, and use the restroom) they may not leave their beds until 8:00.  I have said to them, more than once, that my "on light" does not work before 8:30; meaning that I do not have to be available for service until my morning things are complete...which is typically at about 8:30.

During that first 30 minutes of the day they are to greet me and the others who are awake and, as quietly as possible, begin their morning routines.

1.  Personal Grooming and getting dressed is pretty self explanatory.  Wash faces, brush teeth, change from pj's to clothes if it's not their bath/shower day.  If it is their bath/shower day, they can go ahead and include that as part of their personal grooming.

2.  Zones:  our home is divided into 8 zones.  Each person in the house (except my husband) has an area that they are responsible for keeping clean.  This must be done BEFORE they may eat breakfast.

3.  Quiet Time:  Most of the kids have a Bible or some type of "Jesus" book to read or study the pictures of as an act of devotion to God.  They must go to a quiet place with their books, and/or journals and have a time to be quiet, think about God and pray.

4.  Act of Kindness:  We have an ongoing kindness contest.  I have blogged about this before, but basically they earn tickets (it used to be beads) for doing kind things or saying kind things to/for others.  This also should be done before breakfast.

5.  Exercise:  Right now we do Cosmic Kids on Amazon Prime.  Its a yoga and story time for kids.  We love it!

6.  Breakfast:  We eat! Immediately after exercising, its time for breakfast.  If their chores are not finished, they pray with us for breakfast and then leave to finish their routines.

7.  Read/Go to the "circle and play".  Those who have not spent time reading something for 20 minutes, other than their Bibles, read.  Those who have read may go outside and play "in the circle" (my line of sight from the dining room window) until time for school.

Do you have a mourning routine?  Having this plan has worked wonders in keeping the peace in our home.  I am sure that having some sort of plan will bless your home as well.

Below are a few snapshots of our morning...in no particular order.

Sir putting things away.

Rayanna enjoying her cinnamon muffin for breakfast.

Aaliyah making her bed.

Annas reading with Cassidy.

Devoionne having quiet time.

Until next time,