6 Tips for Being on Time with Kids + Tools to Help!

Before having kids, I showed up early everywhere I went. I prided myself on this ability, in fact, and didn't think that would change with having kids. Boy, was I wrong! For the first few months of my daughter's life, I was late everywhere. I finally felt like I was getting things under control when her brother came along and threw me for another loop. Now that my kids are four and one, I have getting out the door down to a science, and we (almost) always make it places on time. Need some help getting out the door on time with kids? I've got some ideas for you!

Thanks to Little Partners for sending us My First Cubby!

Getting Out the Door on Time with Kids

Start Early. When I say early, I mean really early. I like to plan out how long it takes for my kids to eat, get dressed, and go potty. Then I account for drive time and add an extra fifteen minutes. I'd rather arrive early than late, and 99% of the time we use some of that 'extra' fifteen minutes on unplanned activities (extra potty breaks, blowouts, meltdowns).

Be Patient. The past few months were full of morning frustration for me and my kids. I'd get so upset because they seemed to be intentionally taking extra time or moving slowly. I found myself yelling which would cause crying and didn't help the situation at all. The real tipping point was when I realized my poor four year old was feeling anxious because of my impatience. My kids emotional well-being is way more important than us getting somewhere on time, so I knew I needed to make a change. When we implement an earlier start time, I am less frazzled and can in turn be more patient. My kids listen better and are more likely to be cooperative when I'm at my best.

Make it Fun. I learned a valuable lesson from a fellow mom recently. She pointed out that she used to get frustrated when her kids would try to be silly as they were getting out the door. One of her sons would pretend to "lose" his arms in his jacket and she'd get so irritated, saying "just put on your coat so we can leave!" When she thought about the little amount of time it would take to laugh with him and make a game of it, her mornings got easier. I realize that I, too, can get frustrated when my kids want to make a game out of something, especially when I'm in a hurry. But when I play back, or make a "who can get their shoes on fastest?" challenge, my kids are happier and more helpful.

Give Time Frames. Kids thrive on structure, and that's no different when heading out the door. I always try to give my kids a fifteen minute warning, followed by five. They know that at five minutes we need to head to the door and get our shoes on.

Set Alarms. It's too easy to lose track of time when I'm trying to get myself and two kids out the door, so I set alarms for myself on my phone. I set alarms for fifteen minutes and five minutes, plus an alarm for anything I specifically need to remember to take with us.

Stay organized. This requires a little bit of planning but is probably the most important tip. I can't count how many times we were about to head out the door and someone couldn't find their shoes, or their library books, or (ahem, me) their phone. Now we keep everything in our Little Partners My First Cubby which is in the entry way. I have a chalkboard calendar with all of our activities for the month right next to the cubby so I know what days we have plans. Having these organizational tools have made getting out of the house SO much easier and more seamless.

Little Partners My First Cubby

This cubby has changed our morning routine in great ways, and it's gotten so many compliments from guests who have kids too. Not only is it the perfect height (48") for the kids to reach their belongings, it's got ample space for anything we need when heading out the door.

The Cutest Shoe Cubbies!

Setting up the cubby only took my handy husband about 20 minutes. The pieces were labeled alphabetically which made it simple to keep them in order. Once together, it feels very sturdy.

We figured the best place for our new organizational cubby would be right by the door. The natural color matches the wood in our entry way and I like our "to-go" stuff in one location. One of our biggest issues getting out the door in the past was not being able to find matching shoes. I don't think my kids have THAT many shoes, but somehow we can always find a singleton from each pair. Now I keep two pairs of shoes for each kid in the cubby. When we get home the shoes (ideally) go right back into their spot.

In the middle portion of the cubby we keep backpacks and sweatshirts. Here in Minnesota, you never know what the weather will bring so it's nice to grab extra jackets as you head out. In the backpacks, we keep activities for car rides. Recently I've also been keeping a swim suit for each kid in the backpacks so I don't have to run around the house trying to find them right before we leave. The middle portion of the cubby has eight hooks.

My daughter uses the built-in seat to put on her shoes, and I think that's a great added feature. We have a bench in our entry but it's really too tall for her to use. This is the perfect alternative. My First Cubby does have an anti-tipping strap that's attached to the wall and the top of the cubby, so I don't have to worry about it falling.

It's the Perfect Size for Little Ones!

We use the top section for various things, but most often it's library books and snacks/drinks. I'm sure I'm not the only parent who has frantically searched their house for an overdue library book. Now we read the books and put them in the cubby until we head to the library again. My kids think they need to eat all day long during summer, so I like having snacks in the cubby too. When we head out the door I can grab whatever I need. I also like to keep snacks there because it prevents the kids from running all the way into the house when they get hungry after playing in the yard. They can just grab from the cubby and head back outside!

My First Cubby has been such a great tool to keep us organized as we head out the door. Having things in one central location has really aided us in getting out of the house on time. If you have more than two kids, there are holes in the side of the cubby to connect more together. I think it would also be great for a daycare!

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BUY IT: You can purchase My First Cubby from Amazon in Natural or Espresso finishes, or from directly from Little Partners in Natural, Espresso, Earl Grey, or Soft White.

If you're looking for ways to keep your kids on a routine, this might help!