Issue Date: August 12, 2007

Getting kids out the door in the morning

1 Begin to adjust sleep schedules 10 days before school starts. Set a firm wake-up time, even on weekends, and also for teens. Limit late nights. "Often, insomnia can be a habit," says clinical psychologist Ruth Peters. "Kids expect to have difficulty falling asleep at night, so they do." To help, keep bedrooms as dark as is comfortable and remove electronic devices. Also, kids should avoid caffeinated drinks after lunch; young bodies take longer to process caffeine.

2 Set the stage in the p.m. "The secret for getting out the door is in what you do during the last 10 minutes before you go to bed," says organizational guru Peter Walsh. Set the table with dry breakfast foods. Designate a "staging area" for book bags and athletic gear. Check daily for assignments and permission slips. Give baths at night, and together choose outfits along with clean socks, underwear and accessories to avoid last-minute clothing wars.

3 Use light and sound. Find a wake-up radio station, "the more annoying and loud, the better," Peters says. Expose kids to bright light to get them awake and moving. Open curtains, eat breakfast in a sunny room, and don't let teens sulk behind sunglasses.

4 Play games. Set a timer for brushing teeth and getting dressed. If your child beats the buzzer all week, offer a special breakfast or Saturday surprise.

5 Make "me" time in the a.m. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than the kids so you can check e-mail, read headlines and set goals. You'll feel better and set the morning's tone with your good mood.

-- Hannah Charry