I wrote earlier today about the DILIGENCE BOARD and the morning chore cards we have created for our family.

I’m planning to make a little video a little later today about these cards.

Our morning routine cards are a little different than our morning chore cards.

The morning routines (especially the printed cards), lay everything out for my children in the morning. It tells the children exactly what I’m expecting from the time they wake up for the day.

These are just basic things most people do automatically- things like “brush your teeth”, which seems to elude some little people. It’s just easier for me if it is on a list. Then there are no surprises for the children. They know what I expect. They don’t forget.

It’s simple. I like simple.

When these are done (which shouldn’t take more than half an hour), they are to begin their morning chore cards.

I decided to break these things out for a couple of reasons.

First, our day is organized as a series of routines. For the sake of keeping everyone on the same page, it’s easier to just be able to say, “has everyone finished their morning routine?”. “Has everyone finished their morning chores?”

That just works for me.

Also, it’s not overwhelming to my children when they have smaller lists. It’s manageable. It’s encouraging to them to finish a list and flip it over for the day.

This whole thing has made my home management so much easier.

Jackson (age 3)
Morning Routine

• Wake Up
• GO POTTY!
• Tell everyone good morning with a big smile!
• Take your crunchy pants to the bucket on the washer
• Take your dirty clothes to the hamper
• Pick up misplaced toys in your room
• Morning chores

Darby (age 4)
Morning Routine

• Wake for Day
• GO POTTY!
• Dress/brush hair and teeth
• Take your crunchy pants to bucket on the washer
• Make bed/straighten room
• Morning chores
• Watch video until time for breakfast

Meredith (age 6)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• GO POTTY
• Dress/brush hair and teeth
• Take your crunchy pants to bucket on the washer (make sure Jackson and Meredith do the same)
• Make bed/straighten room
• Morning chores
• Watch video until breakfast

Jonathan (age 8)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• GO POTTY!
• Dress/brush hair and teeth
• Take your crunchy pants to bucket on washer
• Bible time
• Make bed/straighten room
• Morning chores

Emma (age 9)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• Dress/brush hair and teeth
• Bible time
• Make bed/straighten room
• Get Owen up for day and changed– take him to the playpen
• Morning chores

Benjamin (age 11)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• Dress/brush hair and teeth
• Bible time
• Make bed/straighten room
• Start video for littles (see chart on entertainment center)
• Morning chores

Timothy (age 13)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• Dress/brush hair and teeth
• Bible time
• Make bed/straighten room
• Set the sprinkler on the garden beds
• Morning chores
• Turn sprinkler off

Matthew (age 15)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• Dress/brush hair and teeth
• Bible time
• Make bed/straighten room
• Oversee little boys starting their day (make sure the littles are following their routines!)

Jessica (age 17)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• Dress/Brush hair and teeth
• Bible time
• Make bed/straighten room
• Make Owen’s milk
• Morning Chores

Courtney (age 23)
Morning Routine

• Wake for day
• Shower/dress/brush hair and teeth
• Bible Time
• Make Bed
• Set out freezer meal for dinner
• Morning chores

*One quick note, obviously Courtney doesn’t need a set of cards to be reminded to brush her teeth and take a shower. It’s just a reminder to everyone else where she is in the day and what we need her to do to help with our family.

I’m actually planning to make a set of cards for me. I haven’t quite decided what to include just yet.

Obviously, there are many different ways to organize routines and chores. I was hoping that this series of posts might offer a fresh idea.

Ok…as always, I would love to hear what kind of system you have in place for your family.

Do you have a standard routine for your children each day?