Hey guys! My friend Carrie from Chockababy is stopping by today. She’s sharing some tips to help simplify your daily routine & make mornings easier when you have little ones!

Daily Routine: Making Breakfast

There are a few breakfast menu items that kids, even as young as five, can prepare for themselves after minimal preparation by a parent.

Cereal:

Image: Kashi Toasted Berry Crumble Cereal

• Store boxes on a low shelf they can reach, or pre-packaged in containers with lids or baggies (recommended for frequent spillers).

• Have bowls and spoons ready the night before so they can grab them and fill up their bowls.

• The only job left for you is to pour the milk!

Toaster Waffles:

Image: Kashi Blueberry Waffles

• Whether store-bought or pre-made and frozen, waffles can easily be put in the toaster or microwave by any child tall enough to reach.

• You can always be the waffle-getter if they aren’t old enough to avoid getting burnt.

Baked Oatmeal:

• Make the night before & kids can warm in the microwave or toaster oven.

• Store in pre-portioned containers so they can easily grab and heat.

Yogurt Parfaits:

My kids don’t seem to think of yogurt as a breakfast food, but with a little granola and fresh fruit, yogurt makes a great healthy breakfast option!

Image: Kashi GOLEAN Crunch! Yogurt Parfait

• You can make it like a sundae bar to get your kids involved in a fun way!

• Have pre-portioned yogurt cups on a low shelf in the fridge.

• Keep granola in little baggies that can be dumped on the yogurt.

• Let them pick out the fruit to top it with  (blueberries, sliced strawberries, etc.).

BONUS: These can all be planned for and prepared once a week after your shopping trip!

Daily Routine: Making School Lunches

My son can be a picky eater. Sometimes he won’t eat the pretzels I put in his lunch because he “didn’t want them today.” So, I started having him pack the pantry items in his lunch the night before – typically while I make or clean up dinner.

Image: Easylunchboxes.com

We use EasyLunchboxes, and he can fill two of the three compartments with a snack and a treat. He also grabs his fruit and a spoon (if needed) and puts those in his lunch box. In the morning, I can make a quick sandwich and his lunch is finished!

Now that one of my kids is taken care of, I can focus on feeding the other two. The baby is much more “hands-on,” so to be freed up of even just a few minutes with an easy morning routine, I feel much more calm in the morning… and we can make it to school on time!

What I Love About Carrie’s Routines:

• She takes some of the pressure off of herself by choosing kid-friendly breakfast options that her son can prepare independently.
• The bento-style lunch boxes are a great visual cue for little minds, making it easy for her son to choose & pack his own lunch.
• Prepping some of the items the night before while she’s already in the kitchen helps save time for the next day without adding too much to her evening routine, especially since her son can help with the prep work!

Fantastic tips, Carrie!! Thanks so much for sharing!!  Make sure you stop by her blog, Chockababy, for tons of great parenting tips, allergy-friendly recipes, and more. I’m pinning her baked oatmeal recipe to my Breakfast board on Pinterest!

About Carrie:

I am a Mom who loves her kids, hubs, and all things creative. I tend to do too much and I have a hard time saying no. In my spare time, which comes sparingly, I love to snuggle up under a blanket with some ice cream and some good tv! (Carrie is a fellow “Arrested Development” fan!!)

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