FREE PRINTABLE · AGES 3 TO 13
Printable morning routine chart for kids
Make a printable morning routine chart for kids in a minute: pick the steps, add a name and print a daily checklist or a weekly school-day chart.
My morning routine
The short answer
A good kids morning routine chart has 5 to 8 steps in the same order every school day, one picture per step and a box to tick. Younger children do best with fewer steps and pictures; older kids can add times. Prepare clothes and bags the night before, and let your child tick each step themselves.
Sample morning routines for kids by age
| Age | Morning routine | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 3 to 5 | Wake up and get out of bed → Use the toilet → Get dressed → Eat breakfast → Brush teeth → Shoes and coat on | 4 to 6 picture steps, no times. |
| Ages 6 to 9 | Wake up and get out of bed → Get dressed → Make the bed → Eat breakfast → Brush teeth → Brush hair → Shoes and coat on → Pack the backpack | 6 to 8 steps, pictures and words. |
| Ages 10 to 13 | Wake up and get out of bed → Wash face and hands → Get dressed → Make the bed → Eat breakfast → Brush teeth → Pack lunch and water bottle → Pack the backpack → Check: homework, planner, keys | 7 to 9 steps, with a final check. |
How to make a morning routine chart work
- Make it together. Let your child choose the order where it does not matter, and help decorate the printout.
- Hang it where the routine happens. At eye level, near the bedroom door or the breakfast table.
- Keep the same order every school day. The same sequence is what lets the chart fade into habit.
- Let them tick the boxes. A pen on a string or a dry-erase sleeve makes it reusable.
- Prepare the night before. Clothes laid out and a packed bag by the door remove most morning battles.
How much sleep do kids need before a school morning?
Sleep experts recommend 10 to 13 hours in 24 hours for ages 3 to 5 (naps included), 9 to 12 hours for ages 6 to 12 and 8 to 10 hours for teens. Count back from wake-up time to set bedtime, then use the evening chart to make the last hour predictable. For adult bedtimes, try the sleep calculator.
Routines for the grown-ups too
Children copy the rhythm around them. Build your own with the morning routine generator, read how to build a morning routine or start the 30-day morning routine plan.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps should a kids morning routine have?
About 4 to 5 for preschoolers and 6 to 8 for school-age kids. Fewer, clear steps are easier to follow than a long list.
Should I use a daily or a weekly chart?
A daily checklist is simpler for younger children. A weekly chart with Monday to Friday columns lets older kids see their week and works well with a small end-of-week reward.
What time should kids wake up for school?
Count back from when you need to leave, allowing 30 to 60 minutes for the routine. Then set bedtime so your child gets enough sleep: 9 to 12 hours for ages 6 to 12, according to sleep experts.
How do I get my child to follow the chart?
Make it together, keep it at their eye level, do the same order every day and let them tick the boxes. Praise the steps they do rather than pointing out the ones they miss.
Sources and evidence
- Paruthi et al. (2016): Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations (AASM consensus) — Children 3 to 5 should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours, 6 to 12 year olds 9 to 12 hours and teens 13 to 18 8 to 10 hours.
- Gollwitzer and Sheeran (2006): Implementation intentions and goal achievement — Tying an action to a specific moment linked to better follow-through across many studies.