Whether it is leaving from home to school or leaving the beds to get ready for their online lessons, our children just seem to move so slow when it comes to getting ready for school and other activities.
This situation is worse when we have more children. The more children you have, the more tiring and frustrating it becomes.
Come On! Wake up! We are running late! We do not have a lot of time!
Is this what you nag at your children about every morning?
Do you ever wonder the reason why our children simply could not keep up with their momentum for their daily schooling and responsibilities?
Now, let us find out more about children with slow processing speeds and those who just want to get away from their daily tasks.
Children with Slow Processing Speed vs. Children Who Dawdle
So, why are some of our children are taking their time to get ready?
They may have a slow processing speed or they may simply be dawdling.
Well, what is processing speed? Processing speed is the amount of time it takes for someone to complete the tasks.
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Slow Processing Speed
Children with slow processing speeds tend to take longer time to complete tasks that their peers could complete in a fixed amount of time.
Children with slow processing speeds may struggle with verbal, visual, motor, or a combination of these areas.
For example, children with slow processing speeds may be unable to copy notes from the board before their teachers erase them, or they may be unable to perform as many basic math facts in a minute as their peers.
As a result, their parents are dissatisfied. They may believe that their child is sluggish and does not try hard enough.
However, they need to remember that kids with slow processing speeds work harder than kids without it.
In fact, these children experience more anxiety when they are at school.
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Dawdling
Dawdling children, on the other hand, simply lack the discipline to get ready quickly.
You can observe your children to see if they have a slow processing speed or are dawdling, and you can also seek professional help.
Aside from seeking professional assistance, we as parents can assist our children in dealing with the inconvenience of slow preparation.
Keep reading to know more about three simple yet effective alternatives you can try with your children to get ready on time!
3 Alternatives to Deal with Children That Get Ready Slow
#1: Explain the importance of punctuality to your children.
Instead of yelling and rushing our children, we should talk to them.
We must explain why and how important it is for them to turn up on time.
We should also use examples that are directly related to the needs and desires of our children.
For example, you might discuss going to a theme park as a family. Get your children to think about what would happen if their parents continued to delay by completing their own duties.
Make them experience the feelings that will arise if the plan is ultimately cancelled due to everyone failing to turn up on time.
Only then, they would understand the consequences of being late and the value of being on time.
Our children must learn that no one likes someone who is consistently late because it gives the other party the impression that they are not being prioritised.
On the other hand, everyone respects and favours those who are always on time or even arrive ahead of schedule.
#2: Create a routine for daily tasks
We do not want to be the bad guys who scream at our kids; it was just that some of us do not know how to deal with the chaos.
So, how can we approach our weekday mornings differently?
Establishing a routine is one of the options we should definitely consider, not only for ourselves but also for our children.
Routines can help young children remember what to do next, giving them a sense of control over their daily activities.
To begin, create visual charts, such as a to-do list or a picture series, to instruct the children on what to do in the mornings.
We should include our children in the discussion when setting up the daily routine so that they are aware of the time they have to complete daily chores such as taking a bath, eating breakfast, and getting ready to leave for school.
Once you have established the routine, teach the children how to stick to it.
If you notice your children, particularly those with short attention spans, straying from their tasks, return to their list and ask them, ‘Where are you on your list?’.
Rather than nagging, this is a better way to help your children concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Do not forget to include the kids in the preparations for the next day by making everything ready the night before.
The kids will have a better idea of how the next day will go and what they can do to be ready on time!
#3: Turn the task into a race by using a timer
Reflecting on my personal experience, children tend to take their time getting and keeping their books from their bags.
Similarly, as a parent, I was frustrated. So, what did I do to change the situation?
By adding a time constraint into my classroom instructions. When I told the students to keep their books within 10 seconds, almost every single one of them did so within the first 5 seconds.
So, here is the trick to get your children to get ready on time: turn the tasks, especially those mundane ones into a race against time.
Make the tasks into challenges for the children to complete in a certain amount of time.
Children can receive extra minutes in exchange for rewards such as extended playtime and relaxation time.
You will then notice your children accomplishing their responsibilities that they used to do more slowly on their own.
Peaceful Mornings With Children Who Take Their Time Getting Ready
We can break the never-ending cycle of yelling or threatening our children to get ready on time if we make them understand how important punctuality is.
We should begin with a checklist so that our children understand what is expected from them.
Most importantly, if you are about to yell at those who are dawdling, try to validate our children’s feelings.
Get them to stop what they are doing and concentrate on what they need to do.
Every parent and child should have a cheerful morning.