10 Screen-Free Morning Routines That Actually Work for Kids
What we’ve learned and what we’ve stopped doing to make mornings calmer, smoother, and screen-free.
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Let’s be honest with each other here. Screen time can be magical.
They give us a moment to breathe, finish our coffee, maybe even answer an email or two.
For a good long while, I used to rely on morning screen time to get our house up and running.
But slowly, I started to notice the fallout—cranky moods, resistance to turning them off, and overall chaos when it was time to shift gears and go… dare I say it… screen-free.
I’m not anti-screens by any means. We still use them, just not in the morning.
Mornings are already full of transitions, so making that time calmer and more intentional became a small shift that made a big difference in our home.
Now with summer coming up, it’s a good time to talk about some screen-free tips and tricks.
If you’re wondering how to ease into a screen-free morning with your kids, in this post are ten ideas that can work well.
Why We Ditched Morning Screen Time
The decision didn’t happen overnight.
It started with noticing how hard it was to get the kids to turn off their show and get ready for the day.
Or how they were zoning out instead of being engaging and having a conversation.
The more overstimulated they were by 8 AM, the harder the rest of the day felt.
So we tried a couple of screen-free mornings.
Then a couple more… and over time, we created a new rhythm that worked well for us.
10 Screen-Free Morning Routines You Should Try in Your Home
1. Breakfast Play Bins
The night before, set out some quiet activities near the breakfast table. Some examples are puzzles, coloring books, stickers, and magnetic tiles.
The decision didn’t happen overnight. It started with noticing how hard it was to get the kids to turn off their show and get ready for the day.
Or how they were zoning out instead of being engaging and having a conversation. The more overstimulated they were by 8 AM, the harder the rest of the day felt.
So we tried a couple of screen-free mornings. Then a couple more… and over time, we created a new rhythm that worked well for us.
10 Screen-Free Morning Routines You Should Try in Your Home
1. Breakfast Play Bins
The night before, set out some quiet activities near the breakfast table. Some examples are puzzles, coloring books, stickers, and magnetic tiles.
So when you want to make breakfast, the kids can have something to do!
2. "Dress to Music" Challenge
This is similar to a dance party, but instead, put on their favorite song and challenge them to get fully dressed before the song is over.
It’s a fun way to get them motivated to get dressed, but have fun doing so.
3. Morning Book Basket
Keep a small basket of books just for mornings.
They can pick out a book for you to read to them while they eat or they can flip through it while finishing up their breakfast.
This keeps the mood slow, soft, and calm, which is a great way to start the morning versus some overstimulating screentime.
4. Create-A-Station
Just like breakfast play bins, set up a little station with crafts or art like play-doh, stamps, or crayons.
Nothing too messy but playful enough that kids can do independently while school lunches are being made or the dishwasher is being loaded up.
5. Outside First
If the weather is nice, head outside before breakfast!
Even if its just for 10 minutes.
A little trampoline bouncing or quick scooter ride helps burn off some early morning energy and resets their mood.
Plus, it gives them a little Vitamin D which is great!
6. "Find & Fetch" Game
This is probably the easiest game you can do before breakfast.
Call out fun promps like “find something pink” or “bring me something soft".
This helps gets the kids moving, thinking, and strategizing.
7. Daily Question at Breakfast
Kids always have questions so now it’s your turn to ask them.
Ask one question to them every morning like “what are you most excited about for school today” or “what is one kind thing you will do for a friend today".”
This sparks conversation and gets them through the morning rush before school.
8. Morning Playlist + Dance Breaks
As I mentioned above, dance parties are a great idea after breakfast and before school.
When the kids wake up, start off with calm and happy music while getting ready and eating.
Then before the bus comes give them a few fun dance party songs to get them excited for the day!
9. Helping with the Routine
Give the kids a job!
Instead of chores, call it a job and ask one to feed the dog and another to set the table.
It helps give them ownership and makes them feel like they are being helpful and part of a team.
10. Window Watch or Weather Check
Talk about the weather!
Open the windows, look outside and discuss how the air feels and what the clouds look like.
This can help them determine their outfit for the day.
Not Every Idea is Going to Do Well
Not every idea will work for you.
Some kids might be a little too old to “check the weather outside” or a little too young to read to themselves.
However, these 10 screen-free ideas are just some suggestions that we have either tried or plan on trying this summer.
Remember, mornings are still mornings. Sometimes, someone cries over the wrong spoon or insists on wearing mismatched outfits to school.
That’s life.
But creating a screen-free routine can help slow things down a little bit and be more present in the moment!
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