Sticking to a routine will ensure stress-free mornings
TELEVISION host and singer David Campbell knows if his family deviates from their regular routine to get ready for school, things go bad.
“The night before, after I do the dinner dishes I always make the school lunches, but if I forget, you can guarantee that’s the morning that things go wrong,” wrong ” he says. says
Campbell says he learnt early that encouraging his children Leo (Year
7), and twins Betty and Billy (Year 1) to take responsibility for getting themselves ready was the only way to ensure they were on time.
“They do their own uniforms and dress themselves and pack their own bags,” he says.
“They know that’s up to them.” Campbell encouraged parent to let their kids choose their lunch boxes and stationery so they are colour coded which helps save time. time
“Betty likes pink and purple, Billy is blue and Leo likes red. It helps them instantly know whose is whose in the morning.
“I took them to Officeworks to select their back to school stationery and stuff themselves. They just love that store.”
Campbell says he feels like he’s playing multiple roles on a sports team to keep things moving, rather than being a disciplinarian.
“It’s not like I’m Captain Von Trapp,” Trapp ” he laughs. laughs
“(My role is) more like a team leader – or yelling instructions from the sidelines – while you’re also refereeing and sometimes being a cheerleader.”
He says Officeworks has everything for back to school but items such as wall planners and whiteboards can help record routines and set parameters for kids.
“Giving them autonomy is when you really see them flourish.”