By Dr. Bianca Coleman, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA-D | Behavior Therapy Associates | Somerset, New Jersey
“Breakfast…check, coat, shoes for gym class, lunch money, laptop…check! Wait, the laptop is not charged. Where is the charger? Did they do their homework? Wasn’t there a project due this week? Did everyone remember their masks?”
For a lot of parents in the morning, their inner dialog sounds a lot like this. For a parent with a child who struggles with transitions, has executive functioning difficulties, or exhibits challenging or combative behavior, the situation may be a bit more complex. The following proactive and reactive tips can foster a more successful and hiccup-free morning routine and help your family out the door and to your destination.
Draft A Family Calendar And Review Nightly
A look ahead at the schedule for the week, activities, projects that may be due, and expectations sets the tone for a “surprise-free” day. A heads up on events that may be problematic, anxiety-producing, or require substantial mental planning is helpful for children who have difficulty with transitions. The opportunity to discuss the upcoming day during a low-pressure time period ensures the chance to troubleshoot and unpack any difficult feelings that may arise.
Checklists, Visuals, And Time Limits
Instead of numerous shouts up the stairs to “be sure to get your cleats and writing assignment”, or “hurry up we are going to be late”, provide your child with a checklist for the steps of their morning routine and everyday items they need to be sure they have packed for their day. Providing transition warnings or having a timer or alarm set at various intervals is another way to assist your child in managing time without numerous reminders that may further frustrate or aggravate a child who may already be feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
Building In “Cool Down” Time
If you begin to notice your child becoming overly aggravated or you anticipate them having more difficulty on Monday mornings, for example, building in some time for them to take a break could be helpful in preventing larger problematic situations which could impact the rest of the day. This brief period is helpful for everyone to take a deep breath, reassess issues, and find solutions.
Items For The Next Day Should Be Stored In An Easily Accessible Area And Altogether
Every household has a “drop zone”. Usually, right by the door or in a heap in the corner of a room, the items from the day are deposited and forgotten until the following morning. Taking the time to fully unpack the bookbag, sort through the forms and homework, plug in the laptop, and do the sports laundry upon arriving home will save time and aggravation the following morning. Utilizing bins and hooks for specific items allows them to be completely visible and easily retrievable for the child. Having everything located within one area will assist with organization, planning, and provides a visual checklist of the required items for the day.
Identify Problematic Tasks And Practice
Anticipating days of the week, specific tasks, or situations that are often difficult for your child allows for the opportunity to practice and set up intervention strategies in advance. If you find your child struggles with multiple-step directions, gets “lost” in their bedroom for a task that should only take a minute, or frequently becomes anxious on a gym class day, you have the upper hand in getting ahead of something that may completely derail your morning. Talking with your child about what is difficult or upsetting during any of these given situations and coming up with a plan will teach strategies for the future and ensure greater success, independence, and communication.
Incentives… Because Who Doesn’t Love A Little Treat In The Morning
Whether it’s a special (healthy) treat in the car on the way to school, extra “special time” with you, or a few extra minutes to engage in a preferred activity, if your child is successful in accomplishing morning tasks and being ready ahead of schedule, provide reinforcement where you can. Be sure to pair this with behavior specific praise (“I love the way you got ready this morning!”). This will encourage and motivate a faster completion of those morning to-do’s and ensure that there are a few smiles before heading into their final destination.
If your family is struggling with the morning routine or any other transition, please consider reaching out to me at bcoleman@BehaviorTherapyAssociates.com or contact our office at 732-873-1212. You can also complete the contact form on our website https://behaviortherapyassociates.com/contact-us/
Behavior Therapy Associates is proud to provide comprehensive services throughout New Jersey (including South, Central, and North Jersey) and Pennsylvania. We also provide telepsychology services under the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) to more than 25 states throughout the United States. Click here for to see if your state is included: https://psypact.site-ym.com/page/psypactmap
Dr. Bianca Coleman, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA-D, is a licensed psychologist in the state of New Jersey, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctoral level. Dr. Coleman completed her bachelor’s degree from Rowan University in Psychology with a specialization in Child Behavior. Then, she received her master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at Penn State University. Dr. Coleman earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Temple University. Dr. Coleman has extensive experience working with individuals presenting with developmental disabilities, disruptive behaviors, feeding and sleep problems, social skills deficits, as well as attention and executive functioning concerns. She has expertise in using evidence-based treatments to work collaboratively with parents to teach them behavior management strategies and with schools to address classroom management and challenging behaviors. Dr. Coleman is skilled in conducting diagnostic evaluations, specifically of autism spectrum disorder, psychological, psychoeducational, and functional behavior assessments. She also provides assessment and consultation services to public and private schools regarding their programs for learners with autism spectrum disorders and behavior challenges. Dr. Coleman’s professional interests include applying Behavior Analytic strategies to functional based skills and behavioral concerns with individuals, families, schools, and organizations.
