Fast and Fun Ways to Wake Up Your Kids

Starting Their Day and Yours With a Smile

Some kids spring out of bed in the morning, ready to leap forth and tackle the day. Others lie limp and unresponsive until you're forced to shove a mirror under their nose to check for breathing.

If your kids are of the former variety, I salute you. Mine are definitely the latter. Oh, I suppose I can't really blame them; genetically, they never stood a chance of being morning people. Mine are the children who burrow beneath the covers, struggling to stretch 'five more minutes' as far as they possibly can.

I sympathize, of course. But for the sake of all concerned, I can't let them go back to sleep indefinitely. I want my kids to seize the day, not snooze it away!

But it's no fun to start your day by yelling at the kids, and it's no fun for them to start their day in tears. Here, then, are some fun and easy tips for getting your little bed-heads out the door with smiles on their faces. (Don't worry. These techniques have been rigorously tested by an actual working mom and her sleepy kids.)

The Wake-Up Call

Tread carefully; we're entering dangerous territory. Your little one might flail angrily. Your adolescent might mumble something you'll (thankfully) not understand. Before you decide how to rouse your kids, you need to consider what motivates them, and what they enjoy.

Younger children respond quickly to fun and silly things. My daughter, the slow-rising six year old, loves to wake up to the sight of Mom doing something goofy. We have created silly dances for every day of the week - with the Friday Dance being, admittedly, much more enthusiastic than the Monday Dance. I enter her room each morning, flip on her light, and ask her if she knows what time it is. Of course she does; it's dancing time! The bed is forgotten as she jumps up to show off her moves.

Gentle tickling has also been used to great success. I've found that armpits and the backs of knees are particularly effective. Don't be surprised if your child tempts fate by pointing out the fact that their pits are unguarded; this is great fun for them. Just be sure to give the child plenty of time to breathe between tickle-attacks.