Morning tips for the runner with children

For many kids, September is a dreaded time of year. Back to school ads plague them in summer and after two months of playing outside, getting up to get to school in the morning is simply not appealing. Parents of those children who are not keen on being in the classroom might have a battle getting them fed, dressed and ready to go in the mornings. The a.m. can be mahem as it is. Adding in a run can seem impossible. If you’re a parent who relates to this, we’ve come up with some tips.

Prepare breakfasts the night before. If your kids eat cereal in the morning, this might mean just setting out dishes, glasses and cereal boxes the night before. Even that five-minute task saves times. Another option, is to use a slow-cooker breakfast recipe or put ingredients in a blender before bed.

Turn it into a game or race. Are the little ones a bit slow getting dressed in the morning? Make that a race. Set a timer and see who does it the fastest. This method is especially effective for competitive children.

Go running well before you plan on having them up. Likely you have an idea of when the young ones should get up. But if they are tardy in the morning, go running so that you’ll be home well before they have to wake up. That way, you can have your you time and get things organized to ensure that things go smoothly.

Make your kids a morning checklist. Outline a very clear list of what they have to get done in the morning. Keep it simple. A long list might overwhelm them or set them up for failure. If they are the kind of kids who are able to get things done without your supervision, get them up in the morning and have them work through their list while you’re out for your run. Assign jobs to each child if need be or appoint the oldest in charge when you’re gone.