Speed Up Your Morning Routine

HELPFUL WAYS TO

SPEED UP THE MORNING ROUTINE

Mornings can be a whirlwind of unexpected bumps from all manner of lost soccer cleats, misplaced raincoats and forgotten homework. Make it easier with a few do-ahead ideas.

Families are on the cusp of another school year, and there is no better time to begin anew with ideas to keep your morning running smoothly from the get-go. Take a look at some of these suggestions and maybe even tape this list to your fridge so you can involve your kids in the process. Make it a game and put stickers on each suggestion when you use it!

PLACE TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE IN A CUTE BOWL BESIDE THE SINK

Brushing teeth in the morning is a must after breakfast. Make sure kids remember by making sure the tools are right in front of them. Even try getting little toothpaste tubes and different toothbrushes for mornings and put the evening toothbrushes in the cabinet. Have your children decide where they want the bowl. In the sink? On the shelf above the sink? In the drawer with their hairbrush? Young children will develop the habit that will last through childhood and beyond.

SELECT CLOTHING FOR THE NEXT DAY AND LAY ITEMS OUT

Before bedtime each day, spend time choosing the shorts they like, the shirts they want to wear, the socks and tennis shoes. Lay items out in cubbies marked with a giant sticker or spinning light. Little ones can be picky! And you certainly don’t want your little kindergartner to go to school wearing red with purple. Having it all laid out and ready for kids to grab and put on in the morning is a dream.

OBSERVE STRICTER BEDTIMES

This sounds like common sense, but those bedtimes need to apply to you too, Mom and Dad. When your kiddos finish taking baths, brushing teeth, reading and snuggling, you should consider getting ready for bed, too. If you make a goal to be consistent with all of the house bedtime rules, mornings will be easier. This allows you to wake up earlier, have that cup of coffee and possibly throw a load of laundry in before the rest of the house wakes up. PREP BREAKFAST AND LUNCH On this note, there are varied options. If you feel particularly energetic, you can make Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes. On other mornings, instant oatmeal or a bowl of cereal will work. Don’t stress yourself. Cut up fruit the night before and put it in the fridge. If you are gluten free, make muffins over the weekend to warm a bit as the kids pack their backpacks. As for lunches, prepare those together the evening before for a sweet, shared habit. Fill those Tupperware containers with the sandwiches they like, their favorite fruits and the snacks for football or soccer practice after school. And remember to put a note in! My children loved my writing on the napkin: You are amazing! You are smart! I love you!

CREATE CHECKLISTS Whether you put this checklist on your phone, your laptop or on the mirror in their bathroom, this will help:

• Brush your teeth.

• Wash your face.

• Do your hair.

• Get dressed in the clothes we laid out last night.

• Eat breakfast. (Consider placing another list in the kitchen to detail menu options.)

• Get your school supplies ready to go.

• Pack the lunch we made together in your backpack.

DESIGNATE A BACKPACK STATION

Even if you don’t have a mudroom, you can create a spot. In your kitchen, put hooks beside the door you go out when you take your kids to the bus stop or the garage. We used to clear out the backpacks the night before, find homework that needed to be done, papers that needed to be signed, and lay them on the floor! Then, add their mats to sleep on, their notebooks, their lunch the next morning. Or consider loading the car the night before! If you have space, hang the backpacks on hooks within reach of kids’ hands.

EMPTY THE DISHWASHER THE NIGHT BEFORE

It’s much easier to clean up breakfast dishes when the dishwasher is ready and waiting. The last thing anyone wants to do is come home to smelly scrambled egg plates in the sink. Run it right after dinner and empty it right after the kids go to bed. Sounds simple but it’s a nice little perk for you. HAVE SOME MOMMY TIME

When possible, try to make a few minutes for yourself in the morning. Read a chapter of your book. Return some emails. There is a saying that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Remember to fill your cup. Truly, your kids will take their cue from your mood. If you’re happy and cheerful, they’ll follow suit.

CHECK THE WEATHER THE NIGHT BEFORE

If a cold front is sweeping in, get jackets out. If heat is building, dress your children appropriately. This is all a team effort, too. Have your kids look at the weather app with you and see for themselves what is going to happen. It gets them involved, and then they can talk about it with their friends.

Remember, have fun. Children love games, and setting a timer can add some excitement to their morning. When they are particularly tired or out of sorts, give them awards to sweeten the efforts of efficiency.

GUIDE

An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

Sources: RookieMoms.com, ModernParentsMessyKids.com

AUGUST festivalsACROSS KANSAS CITY

Summer is festival season in Kansas City! Visit KCParent.com and use our Festival Guide for a complete guide to fests and fairs all season long!

Grand Carnivale

Ethnic Enrichment Festival

Jazzoo 2022 Innovation Festival Aug. 6, 11:00-10:00, Crown Center. Innovation Festival is a convergence of music and innovation, featuring two scientific conferences and a day of music and innovation.

Grand Carinvale Thru Aug. 7, Worlds of Fun. Enjoy amazing high energy live music, delicious international food, lively games and unique crafts!

Butterfly Festival Thru Aug. 7, Powell Gardens. Spend a day outdoors exploring tropical and native butterflies alongside stunning botanic displays. This festival is a Kansas City family-favorite!

Missouri State Fair Aug. 11-21, Missouri State Fairgrounds. Enjoy “Buckets of Fun” with a carnival, food trucks, livestock demonstrations, competitions, concerts, live entertainment and more.

Parkville Days Aug. 19-22, Downtown Parkville. Enjoy a variety of family-friendly entertainment. Browse and enjoy arts and crafts, retail, food and specialty booths.

Ethnic Enrichment Festival Aug. 19-22, Swope Park. Feel the world beat in the heart of America with live entertainment, food, crafts, demonstrations and more.

BBQ & Fly-In on the River Aug. 19-20, Excelsior Springs Airport. More than 70 barbecue teams compete to take home the trophy! Great music, food, beer, cornhole tournaments, a barbecue Calcutta and so much more!

Jazzoo 2022 Aug. 26, Kansas City Zoo. Party animals from across the metro will gather to enjoy unlimited food, drinks and entertainment—all while raising money for the Kansas City Zoo.

Downtown Olathe Fourth Friday Aug. 26, Downtown

Olathe. Enjoy great kids activities, live music, food trucks and more!

Find the complete Summer Festival Guide on KCParent.com.

Apple Picking

DAY TRIPS

It’s apple picking season! These local farms are great day trip destinations for families.

Each of the u-pick apple orchards on our list is a locally-owned family operation designed to provide the best in healthy produce and a great family outing. Apple picking season is typically mid-August through early October, but you’ll want to call for current hours and information.

OUR TOP PICKS:

Our top pick farms are all robust attractions with u-pick, agritourism and great play spaces for kids. Plan a half day to full day at these farms picking fruit, tasting delicious goodies and playing together as a family.

FUN FARM KEARNEY: 650 N. Jefferson St., Kearney, MO, 816.628.0028 The Fun Farm is the place for all-day FUN. This beautiful farm in Kearney stands out in the crowd thanks to its intentional layout welcoming guests of all ages to experience agritourism at its finest. Kids will love the Keebler Treehouse Village, the petting zoo, barnyard games, jumping pillows and more. Add on to your daily ticket and enjoy picking several varieties of apples. FunFarmPumpkinPatch.com

JOHNSON FARMS PLANTS AND PUMPKINS:

17701 S. State Rte. D, Belton, 816.331.1067 Johnson Farms in Belton hosts apple picking in August and September, even before pumpkin season begins. Enjoy a hayride out to the orchard where you can pick beautiful apples. This is one of our favorite ways to kick off autumn family traditions. JohnsonFarms.net LOUISBURG CIDER MILL: 14730 K68 Hwy., Louisburg, KS, 913.837.5202 Though you can’t pick apples at Louisburg Cider Mill, you can enjoy apple treats! Watch as cider is made from scratch, enjoy fresh apple cider donuts and shop their country store. In the fall, play at the pumpkin patch and enjoy the corn maze at this favorite attraction in Louisburg, KS. LouisburgCiderMill.com

POME ON THE RANGE: 2050 Idaho Rd., Williamsburg, KS, 785.746.5492 Now under the same ownership as Louisburg Cider Mill, Pome on the Range is a beautiful orchard in Franklin County, KS. Enjoy the u-pick apple orchard, cider donuts, wines, cider, pies and other home goods. Free wine-tasting every day. PomeOnTheRange.com

WESTON ORCHARD & VINEYARD: 18545 Co. Rd. H, Weston, MO, 402.209.4117 Situated on a bluff in Historic Weston, this family-owned farm is a fun getaway in the country. Enjoy a u-pick apple orchard with 7,000 trees on 15 acres offering 12 varieties of fruit, hayrack rides, apple cannons, rat racers, bouncing pillow, low ropes course with zip line, kids corn maze and more! OrchardWeston.com

ALLDREDGE ORCHARDS

Day Trip Tip: Visit Watkins Mill Historic Site in Lawson, MO. The historic site offers a visitor center, museum, the 1861 woolen mill, the 1850s Watkins family home, the 1856 Franklin Academy and the 1871 Mount Vernon Baptist Church. In addition to the museum, the state park is home to hiking trails, a fishing lake, a swim beach and campgrounds.

CIDER HILL FAMILY ORCHARD

Day Trip Tip: After apple picking, head to Legends Outlets where you can enjoy free events on the Lawn, including concerts, outdoor movies and workout sessions. This outdoor outlet shopping center offers more than 75 leading designer and favorite brand-name stores.

PETER’S ORCHARD

Day Trip Tip: Step back in time at Fort Osage Historic Site, where you can learn history at the first U.S. outpost in the Louisiana Purchase. Exhibits present history of the local Osage tribe, as well as military history.

ROCK CREEK APPLE ORCHARD

Day Trip Tip: Visit Powell Gardens on your trip and explore their Fortopia exhibit this summer or enjoy their Festival of Butterflies (July 21-Aug. 7). One of our favorite botanical gardens, Powell Gardens is a delightful place to spend a summer day.

SCHWEIZER ORCHARDS

Day Trip Tip: Explore St. Joseph Museums. St. Joseph Museums comprise five separate museums and exhibits in one location. Three have history buffs in mind. Native American Galleries tells of tribes from across the United States and includes an archaeological dig box for children. Black Archives Museum tells the story of slavery to Civil Rights, and the WWI exhibit shows how the Midwest struggled with the Great War.

SUNFLOWER ORCHARDS

Day Trip Tip: Go to Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary where they offer tours of their facility, devoted to the care and preservation of endangered large cats, to educate the public on their behavior, physiology, habitats and the threats and dangers of extinction. And, visit Louisburg Cider Mill where you can watch as cider is made from scratch, enjoy fresh apple cider donuts and more. Tip: They purchased Pome on the Range where you may pick apples.

WAGON WHEEL ORCHARD

Tip: Make an appointment to pick at this orchard. Day Trip Tip: Visit the Lanesfield School Historic Site where you learn about the history of education in rural Kansas in the late-19th through mid-20th centuries and learn what an average school day was like for children.

Kristina Light writes regularly about the best family attractions in Kansas City on KCParent.com.