Make Mornings Easier: How to Keep Your 5-Year-Old Happy and On Time Before School
- Happypillar Team
- Feb 21
- 3 min read
Mornings: A Comedy of Chaos
We’ve all been there. You take what feels like five extra minutes to “sleep in” and you walk into a live-action obstacle course first thing in the morning. You’re trying to drink your coffee while it’s still hot, get your family dressed and fed, and make it to school on time.. Meanwhile, they are negotiating, protesting, and getting distracted.
Sound familiar?
If your mornings feel like triathlons you can never actually finish, there is hope! It doesn’t have to be this hard. Will it ever be perfect? No. But can it be smoother? Absolutely.
The secret? Get ahead of the chaos before it starts.
Why Are Mornings So Hard for 5-Year-Olds?
Short answer: Their stage of brain development makes them imaginative, curious, and energetic, but time management and planning ahead are not their strong suits.
Longer answer: Five-year-olds have the energy of a puppy but the time management skills of... well, a puppy. They are curious, distractible, and typically unfazed by the concept of urgency. They can understand concepts like “today” and “tomorrow,” but any nuance in between is likely to be lost on them. You need to leave in 10 minutes? Cool, they’re just gonna sit here and watch dust float in the sunlight.
Their little brains are still developing executive function skills—the ones responsible for planning, remembering, and, you know, actually doing things in a timely manner. The good news? You can help.
The Fix: A Morning Routine That Works for Them
Most morning routines are designed for adults, who (at least theoretically) know how to function before 8 AM. A kid-friendly routine needs to work with their brain, not against it. Kids thrive on predictability. Research backs this up: Consistent routines help kids feel secure, improve emotional regulation, and even boost cooperation. Why? Because when they know what’s coming next, there’s less room for stalling, whining, and pretending they forgot how to put on pants.
Think of it like a well-rehearsed play - you’re just giving them the script.
1. Start the Night Before (Mornings Have Enough Going on))
Pick out clothes together at bedtime and offer a fun, school-friendly accessory like a special hair clip or sticker (they’ll love asserting their independence)
Let them help pack the backpack and find the missing shoe before it’s go-time (a sense of ownership over the task is great for this age)
Give them opportunities for age-appropriatecontrol—let them check things off a "school checklist.”
2. Wake Them Up Gently (Instead of Like a Fire Drill)
No one likes being jolted awake, especially tiny humans. Try soft lights or a favorite song instead.
Give them something to look forward to (even if it’s as simple as their favorite cereal or extra cuddle time).
Start with a moment of connection. Five minutes of "Happy Time" before the rush can set a completely different tone for the day.
3. Keep It Visual (Because Words = White Noise in the Morning)
A simple picture checklist works wonders (teeth, clothes, breakfast, shoes, backpack—boom).
Timers are magic: "Can you get brush your teeth until the end of this song?" (Spoiler: Yes, they can.)
4. Avoid the Morning Power Struggle
Instead of reminders, offer choices: "Do you want to brush your teeth first or put on your shoes first?" Same outcome, less resistance.
Tackle one task at a time. Even two or three at once can lead five-year-olds to get off-course.
Set clear expectations: "Once you’re dressed, you get five minutes of playtime before we leave."
The Reality Check
Even with the best routine, some mornings will still be a hot mess. There will be lost socks, rogue toothpaste disasters, and last-minute bathroom emergencies. But with a little planning, those chaotic mornings will become fewer and farther between.
And one day—when they’re grown and mornings are suspiciously quiet—you might even miss the madness. (Maybe.)
Now go forth and conquer the morning. But first, coffee.
