6 Little Tricks for a Happier Start 💛

Hello, families! ☀️

How is everyone doing?

We’re well into October now, and the mornings are getting colder and darker. Which means one thing… the sleepy, grumpy school mornings are back!

Getting the kids up and ready for school can be a struggle at the best of times, but it can feel even harder when it’s dark outside and nobody wants to leave the warmth of their bed.

But that doesn’t mean our hands are tied! Here are a few tried-and-tested little tricks that might help your crew roll out of bed with a bit more ease. ❤️

🎃 1. Wake them up with some extra loveliness

I’ll start with something that might sound obvious, but it’s worth a try: wake them up with something lovely.

“Hello, my little treasures!”

“Good morning, my favourite pumpkins!”

“Rise and shine, my favourite people on the planet!”

Children pick up on our moods, and starting the day with a little extra warmth and silliness can make those first few minutes feel much nicer. Even if they respond with a groan. 😂

🎵 2. Wake them up with music

We’ve been doing this for a while, and it’s such a lovely way to start the day.

Some mornings, we put on something funky to get everyone moving. Other days, it’s a gentle guitar piece or a tune from their favourite film.

A little music can make getting out of bed feel less like a chore and more like the beginning of a new day.

🥐 3. Tempt them with a surprise breakfast

The other day, we made frozen croissants for breakfast, and the kids were downstairs in minutes!

The buttery smell filling the house was irresistible. Who can blame them?

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Sometimes, knowing there’s something especially delicious waiting downstairs is all the motivation they need.

🤝 4. Make a little pact

We’ve made a pact with our gang: on the days they go to breakfast club, if they get ready quickly enough, they can have breakfast at home instead.

I know it might sound a little silly, but a nice breakfast at home is hard to beat, and our little agreement works!

Sometimes, giving children a bit of say in how their morning goes can make all the difference.

💛 5. Give them an unhurried moment

Mornings are always busy in our house, but I’ve noticed that taking a moment to sit by the bedside, have a little cuddle or simply spend a bit of time with the kids before rushing off to the next task works wonders.

We can be so focused on getting everyone dressed, fed and out of the door that we forget how much a few minutes of connection can help.

It might not make them leap out of bed, but it can make the whole morning feel a little gentler.

🎉 6. Announce something lovely

Have you secretly planned a playdate, got a fun after-school activity lined up, or bought them a new pair of socks they’ll love?

Tell them about it in the morning!

A little bit of good news can give them something to look forward to and bring a little excitement to an otherwise ordinary school day.

Just make sure it’s something they’ll genuinely be excited about. 😉

Of course, not every trick will work every morning, and some days will be grumpy regardless. 😂

But if we can make the start of the day feel just a little more joyful, I reckon that’s a win.

Now, over to you! ❤️

What works in your house when the kids simply do NOT want to get out of bed?

Share your tried-and-tested tricks in the comments. We could all do with a little help on those dark October mornings! 🍂