Anonymous
04/16/2026 06:45
Subject: Tardy to go to school
You need a schedule and a visual checklist. Maybe one of those clocks where you color different parts of the hour based on what activity they should do.
What ages are the kids?
It is hard when you're trying to get ready at the same time.
What ages are the kids?
It is hard when you're trying to get ready at the same time.
Anonymous
04/16/2026 06:21
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Try to not get too worked up about it.
Anonymous
04/16/2026 03:34
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Anonymous wrote:Wake your youngest up earlier. Write out a checklist. Have time slots for each item in the checklist, make it a game. They get a sticker or M&M every time they check something off the list on time. Be realistic about what you have to help with — and don’t procrastinate hoping that a kid that has never brushed their hair will suddenly, randomly achieve this skill on a Tuesday morning. Work on skills on the weekend.
If this younger kid is older than 7 get an ADHD screening. Stop yelling. Be cheerful. Make up songs for each step. Make up a fun song as you give them each sticker, etc. Positivity rules the morning!
This. Visual check list, picture of a kids clothing (get dressed), picture of breakfast, picture of tooth brush, picture of hair brush, etc. Put velcro on the back amd move from one side (not done) to the other (done) every morning.
No treats (reading, TV, whatever) until all are done. If all are done early, treat (can red, watch TV, have a stucker book to play with, etc.). To start, make an extra treat if they are BOTH on time 2 days in a row (extra time on the playground after school, you will read an extra book with them at bedtime, etc. I would try to make non-food treats). When it starts happening regularly, up the treat and the number of days in a row to get it and work yourself up to 5 days in a row, both on time and we will go to the zoo this weekend or to the library to pick out new books, or somewhere they like to go/do. Eventually, treats go away because they are just doing it/in habit
Anonymous
04/16/2026 00:16
Subject: Re:Tardy to go to school
I pack lunches and snacks and set these out in advance and also have breakfast ready. My kids are 6 and 8 and have zero time sense. I’ll tell my 8 year old to go back and grab socks and I’ll find him sitting there reading a book.
I am on top of them - with my 6 year old I sometimes physically wake her up (older kid has an alarm clock) and I help her get ready (clothes picked out the night before) if she’s not moving. All teeth must be brushed / kids dressed / socks on before coming downstairs for breakfast. I do have a visual timer for breakfast (which is no more than 10-15 min on any day) and have 15 min of buffer time for when that ends and when the bus departs.
It’s not perfect, but I do mornings solo most days with a 2, 6 and 8 year old and from wake up to bus is 40 min. My 2 year old normally looks wild and comes back to get ready / eat but is a complicating factor 😂 I have a Fitbit that I use for knowing precisely what time it is!
I am on top of them - with my 6 year old I sometimes physically wake her up (older kid has an alarm clock) and I help her get ready (clothes picked out the night before) if she’s not moving. All teeth must be brushed / kids dressed / socks on before coming downstairs for breakfast. I do have a visual timer for breakfast (which is no more than 10-15 min on any day) and have 15 min of buffer time for when that ends and when the bus departs.
It’s not perfect, but I do mornings solo most days with a 2, 6 and 8 year old and from wake up to bus is 40 min. My 2 year old normally looks wild and comes back to get ready / eat but is a complicating factor 😂 I have a Fitbit that I use for knowing precisely what time it is!
Anonymous
04/15/2026 21:52
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Don’t allow breakfast or reading/play until they are otherwise fully ready to go. If they are low on time then their breakfast is a nonpreferred banana or cheese stick or whatever else can be eaten in the go in the car. If they want a preferred breakfast then they’re motivated to be ready or feel the consequences of their actions right away vs taking away screens later. Same idea with reading. He can read when fully dressed with shoes on and teeth brushed.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 12:42
Subject: Tardy to go to school
And yes, lots of people use timers, Alexa reminders, etc for kids )and for grown ups).
Anonymous
04/15/2026 12:41
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Wake your youngest up earlier. Write out a checklist. Have time slots for each item in the checklist, make it a game. They get a sticker or M&M every time they check something off the list on time. Be realistic about what you have to help with — and don’t procrastinate hoping that a kid that has never brushed their hair will suddenly, randomly achieve this skill on a Tuesday morning. Work on skills on the weekend.
If this younger kid is older than 7 get an ADHD screening. Stop yelling. Be cheerful. Make up songs for each step. Make up a fun song as you give them each sticker, etc. Positivity rules the morning!
If this younger kid is older than 7 get an ADHD screening. Stop yelling. Be cheerful. Make up songs for each step. Make up a fun song as you give them each sticker, etc. Positivity rules the morning!
Anonymous
04/15/2026 12:26
Subject: Tardy to go to school
We do a 7am wake up for an 8:30 bus pick up, and I have an interim schedule per below (and I set alarms for myself to keep them on it as I also have ADHD):
7-7:45 breakfast (one of mine is a very slow eater, the other will usually go read or play in his room when he's finished)
7:45-8:10 get dressed/brush teeth/do hair (I generally check in around 7:55/8 to make sure things are tracking)
8:10-8:20 shoes/bathroom/out the door
There is a lot of lag in this schedule, which the kids use to listen to music, read, play in their rooms, etc. But the interim milestones give them (and me) a check that we are on track towards getting out the door. Anytime we try to compress it for a before-school activity, there's a blow up and/or we're late. So those days we generally just shift the whole thing earlier.
7-7:45 breakfast (one of mine is a very slow eater, the other will usually go read or play in his room when he's finished)
7:45-8:10 get dressed/brush teeth/do hair (I generally check in around 7:55/8 to make sure things are tracking)
8:10-8:20 shoes/bathroom/out the door
There is a lot of lag in this schedule, which the kids use to listen to music, read, play in their rooms, etc. But the interim milestones give them (and me) a check that we are on track towards getting out the door. Anytime we try to compress it for a before-school activity, there's a blow up and/or we're late. So those days we generally just shift the whole thing earlier.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 12:06
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op here. Let's say the school is closed at 9am. The older one wakes up between 7:30am to 8am. He likes to read books or newsletter magazine. Then he waits till 8:30am to grab a bite of food as breakfast, uses bathroom, takes allergy medicine, grab socks & etc. He is normally ready at 8:50am. My younger one wakes up between 8am to 8:35am. She throws herself on the couch, eats slow, and touch this & that. I have to comb her hair, and put socks and shoes on her to get her out of the door. She just sits there looking at me. Their school is only 3 mins drive away.
Even though I am the one helping them to get their lunch packed, water bottle refilled etc ready. They are so slow to get ready. I can get myself ready to work, include brush teeth shower, makeup, get changed, pack lunch & eat breakfast in 20-25 mins to leave door from the time I wake up. My work is only 8 mind drive away. I grew up in city and I learn to be multi tasking and used to do things fast.
Well first, he cant read until his ready to leave. Thems the rules. 2- eat at the table.
3- No sitting down until they are dressed and hair is brushed.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 11:11
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Let's say the school is closed at 9am. The older one wakes up between 7:30am to 8am. He likes to read books or newsletter magazine. Then he waits till 8:30am to grab a bite of food as breakfast, uses bathroom, takes allergy medicine, grab socks & etc. He is normally ready at 8:50am. My younger one wakes up between 8am to 8:35am. She throws herself on the couch, eats slow, and touch this & that. I have to comb her hair, and put socks and shoes on her to get her out of the door. She just sits there looking at me. Their school is only 3 mins drive away.
Even though I am the one helping them to get their lunch packed, water bottle refilled etc ready. They are so slow to get ready. I can get myself ready to work, include brush teeth shower, makeup, get changed, pack lunch & eat breakfast in 20-25 mins to leave door from the time I wake up. My work is only 8 mind drive away. I grew up in city and I learn to be multi tasking and used to do things fast.
Well first, he cant read until his ready to leave. Thems the rules. 2- eat at the table.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 11:04
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Op here. Let's say the school is closed at 9am. The older one wakes up between 7:30am to 8am. He likes to read books or newsletter magazine. Then he waits till 8:30am to grab a bite of food as breakfast, uses bathroom, takes allergy medicine, grab socks & etc. He is normally ready at 8:50am. My younger one wakes up between 8am to 8:35am. She throws herself on the couch, eats slow, and touch this & that. I have to comb her hair, and put socks and shoes on her to get her out of the door. She just sits there looking at me. Their school is only 3 mins drive away.
Even though I am the one helping them to get their lunch packed, water bottle refilled etc ready. They are so slow to get ready. I can get myself ready to work, include brush teeth shower, makeup, get changed, pack lunch & eat breakfast in 20-25 mins to leave door from the time I wake up. My work is only 8 mind drive away. I grew up in city and I learn to be multi tasking and used to do things fast.
Even though I am the one helping them to get their lunch packed, water bottle refilled etc ready. They are so slow to get ready. I can get myself ready to work, include brush teeth shower, makeup, get changed, pack lunch & eat breakfast in 20-25 mins to leave door from the time I wake up. My work is only 8 mind drive away. I grew up in city and I learn to be multi tasking and used to do things fast.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 10:50
Subject: Tardy to go to school
If they cant get ready they need to wake up earlier. If they need to wake up earlier then they need to go to bed earlier.
My kids have never been tardy due to just being slow. And I have a VERY slow adhd kid with no concept of time. It requires parental involvement to get him out the door. And also requires an earlier bed time to enforce waking up with enough leeway.
Wake them up closer to 7 if they need more time.
My kids have never been tardy due to just being slow. And I have a VERY slow adhd kid with no concept of time. It requires parental involvement to get him out the door. And also requires an earlier bed time to enforce waking up with enough leeway.
Wake them up closer to 7 if they need more time.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 10:18
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Anonymous wrote:I start trying to leave 25 minutes before we actually have to leave /when a normal adult would leave
+1. When my kids were young, I'd wake them up 2 hours before we have to leave. I'd put them to bed early so that they would get enough sleep overall.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 10:16
Subject: Tardy to go to school
I start trying to leave 25 minutes before we actually have to leave /when a normal adult would leave
Anonymous
04/15/2026 09:49
Subject: Tardy to go to school
Since my younger child attends elementary school, both of my kids are tardy like 6-8 times a year. My older kid has zero tardy for 3 years before his younger sister attends same school as him. It is just both are so slow and no sense of time even though they wake up at 8am or earlier. Something has to be done, and I punish both woth zero screen time every single time they are late. On the day they are not late, I cannot drop them off till like 1 to 5 mins before school closing. My younger one throws tantrum and spend extra minutes being mad or crying if I yell at her. So, I cannot let out my frustration on her. Do you all use alarm clock or timer countdown to get kids out of the door on school days?