Rise and Shine, New Day Started

The alarm rings. You child hops happily out of bed. After brushing her teeth, she heads for the closet and picks out something appropriate for the season. Before her fist mouthful of cornflakes, she checks her backpack to make sure that she's got all of her homework. Then she heads to the school bus with five minutes to spare.

OK. So it's you who's dreaming. More likely, your morning begins with you trying to rouse your child, who wants nothing more than to be left alone. Fifteen minutes later, when you stop by her room to call her to breakfast, you find her absorbed in a game half-dressed. And once she's seated at the table, she balks at what you're offering for breakfast.

Lunching the day can be stressful for any parent, particularly for those of us whose kids need time to get going or who are easily sidetracked. Try these ideas for starting the day on a better note.
Long-Term Planning
Establish and review the morning routine. Together with your child, create a chart that details the sequence in which each morning activity should take place. Help her get into the habit of referring to the chart every day. (For pre-readers, use pictures to denote activities, such as toothpaste advertisement clipped from a magazine to represent teeth-brushing time.) Or have your child make a tape recording in which he reminds himself what to do and when to do it. No more being nagged by Mom or Dad!