10 Parenting tips for leaving the house with your kids

When you have little kids, leaving the house with them can be a challenge. You have to make sure you packed everything: their favorite snack, their favorite toy, extra clothes, extra diapers, etc.

Then actually stepping out of the house with them is a whole other production―whether you’re taking them to preschool, to your office, or on a family holiday.

Click "Next” to get a load of tips and tricks that'll make leaving the house with your little tots as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Wake up as early as possible

To prepare yourself for the hectic morning ahead, wake up early so that you can get a head start on things. This will give you time to think and plan, make coffee, and get yourself completely alert before you start to move.

Be reminded that waking up early usually starts with sleeping early as well. This helps ensure that you don't miss out on much needed hours for rest.

Keep calm

Your mind may be running a mile a minute with things to remember and do, but know that this is no time to panic. Panicking will only lead to you forgetting something or losing your cool.

Instead, stay calm and focused on everything you need to prepare before you leave, as well as what you need to take with you. It helps to make a checklist so you can tick off items as you complete them, minimizing the risk of overlooking something or doing the same task twice.

Get help

This is one of the best times to ask for help from your spouse, house helper, or older children. You can be a lot more efficient if you have someone else take care of feeding or entertaining your baby as you prepare yourself and your things for the day.

Buy yourself time by keeping your little one occupied

If you don't have an extra person around to watch over your little ones while you prepare, then keep them occupied with toys and activities so that you can move about freely.

Finding something for your child to play with doesn't have to be complicated. In fact just a few pairs of socks or scarves from your drawer may effectively keep them quiet for as long as you need.

Make it a fun experience

When you make things fun, you are more likely to get your children to cooperate with you. This tip will certainly come in handy when you need to rush to get everyone dressed and ready to go early in the morning.

You could race with your kids to see who can finish getting dressed first. Play "follow the leader” with them as you all walk to the car. These are just a few ways that you can make the morning more fun and less stressful for everyone.

Have food ready

Having food ready makes mornings easier, especially when you only have time for a quick breakfast. Cereals, instant oats, and pre-made sandwiches that you can just put into the toaster are real time savers.

Just in case you run out of time to eat and feed your little one before you leave, have packed food ready in the refrigerator. Yogurt cups, overnight oats, and sliced fruits are some examples of healthy quick breakfasts that you can make ahead.

Prepare your things in advance

One more way to make your morning less stressful is to pack your things the night before. Doing this means that you have one less thing to worry about when you wake up, buying you extra time to prepare. It also lessens the possibility of you leaving something behind.

Aside from packing your bags ahead, you can also plan what you and your child will wear the night before. Lay out your clothes already so that you won't have trouble looking for specific pieces while you are in a rush.

Learn when to let go

There will be days when you have to leave the house with a pile of dishes in the sink, or your child's toys all over the floor. In worse cases, there might even be mornings when you run out of time to wash your hair. Things happen, and sometimes you need to just let it go.

Instead of fretting over things that didn't go according to plan, learn to shrug them off and move on with your day. You can always make up for the mishap tomorrow.

Find your rhythm

Over time, you are sure to find a system that works for you and your family. When you discover what works for you, stick with it. Also leave room for adjustments and fine tuning.

Triple check before you go

It's always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure that you triple check that you have everything that you need for the day before you leave the house.

It won't hurt to go through the house and check that all electronics are unplugged, the stove is turned off, and doors and windows are shut and locked, too.

10 Parenting tips for leaving the house with your kids

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

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Written by

Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

Parenting tipsEnglish