RoutineKit

Morning routine chart for kids

A picture checklist for the school-morning rush: toilet, clothes, breakfast, teeth, shoes, out the door. Edit the steps, then print it for the bathroom mirror.

Steps (8)
Look & print settings
Morning routine
  1. Wake up
  2. Use the toilet
  3. Get dressed
  4. Eat breakfast
  5. Brush teeth
  6. Brush hair
  7. Put on shoes
  8. Grab backpack

In the print dialog choose Save as PDF for a file, and turn on Background graphics to keep the colours. Your chart saves automatically in this browser.

Work backwards from the front door

Most morning battles are really time battles: the routine takes longer than the time you've left for it. Set when you leave, slide each step to how long it honestly takes your child, and see what time the day has to start.

  • 10 min
  • 10 min
  • 15 min
  • 20 min
  • 5 min
  • 10 min

Wake-up time: 6:50 am

  1. 6:50 am Wake up and cuddle
  2. 7:00 am Toilet and wash
  3. 7:10 am Get dressed
  4. 7:25 am Breakfast
  5. 7:45 am Brush teeth
  6. 7:50 am Shoes and coat
  7. 8:00 am Ready by (buffer starts)

A good morning routine for kids, step by step

  1. Bathroom first. Toilet, wash hands and face while they're still sleepy and compliant.
  2. Get dressed before breakfast. Clothes are the step most likely to stall, so do it before the reward of food. Lay clothes out the night before.
  3. Breakfast, then teeth. Brushing after eating is the natural order and ends the meal clearly.
  4. Shoes, coat, bag by the door. Keep these in one spot so the last pictures on the chart are all in the same place.
  5. Finish with something good. A few minutes of play or a story if there's time left makes speed worth it.

For toddlers, use the same order with fewer, bigger pictures, or try the toddler routine chart. If school runs are where it falls apart, the after-school chart helps with the other end of the day.

Questions parents ask

What should be on a morning routine chart for kids?

The steps between waking up and leaving the house, in the order you really do them: toilet, getting dressed, breakfast, teeth, hair, shoes and coat, bag. Leave out anything you do for your child; the chart is for their jobs.

How early should my child wake up for school?

Add up how long each step actually takes your child (not how long it should take), add a buffer, and count back from when you leave. The planner above does this for you.

Should the morning chart include screen time?

Many families put a reward such as a short show or play time as the last picture, only once everything else is done. It gives the routine a finish line. That is a family choice rather than a rule.

My toddler won’t follow the chart. What now?

For two- and three-year-olds, keep it to 3–5 pictures and do the steps together at first. Point at the next picture instead of giving the instruction. Most toddlers need weeks of shared practice before they use a chart alone.

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