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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Top tips to get your DC dressed for School

33 replies

FuntoLearn · 03/03/2011 20:58

Hi all,

My DD (age 7) is a complete nightmare at getting dressed for school in the morning.

Today I decided to reward her with 10p for each day she gets dressed by herself by 7.30am (including hair, teeth, wash etc) and for every day she doesnt, she loses 10p.

Amazingly this bribery method has worked. 10p is now in her new money box. I know its only day 1 - but we have success. Yay!

Tell me about your tips?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nikki1978 · 03/03/2011 21:01

Watching as my current routine of getting my two ready is to shout at them for 10 mins

SGertie · 03/03/2011 21:01

When my dc (7&4) are dressed with teeth brushed and beds made they can watch tv. Usually works

caffeinated · 03/03/2011 21:01

Dress her in her uniform before bed.

Problem solved.;)

wine0 · 03/03/2011 21:03

race against me dressing DS's baby sister or me getting dressed.

footballsgalore · 03/03/2011 21:08

Rule 1. Get dressed before you set foot downstairs.

Rule 2. Absolutely no TV until totally ready apart from shoes.

Rule 3. Send them to breakfast club, then you don't need to worry about that bit.

Rule 4. If 1-3 fail...shout

RoadArt · 03/03/2011 21:10

Racing against me.

Me putting on their clothes (or trying to).
Sending them to school in their pyjamas.
Get them up earlier. Set a strict routine taht has to be followed or no friends, playstation, computer, tv.

Waswondering · 03/03/2011 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OffToNarnia · 03/03/2011 21:24

'Do you want to go to school through the office?!' Works on my 5 year old if he is faffing about as he doesn't want a late on the register.

cece · 03/03/2011 21:31

I find being taken to school in their PJs once has a very positive effect on their ability to get dressed on time.

RockyAddict · 03/03/2011 21:34

waswondering I use the carrier bag method!

Or failing that, "when we arrive late at school you can explain to Mrs Headteacher why you are late"

ambivalentaboutmarmite · 03/03/2011 21:35

I have a 5yo and a 3yo. Clothes go on after breakfast (to avoid the kids wearing cereal to school). After breakfast the only thing that they are allowed to do is go and wash hands and face and brush teeth. And then get dressed immediately. Clothes laid out downstairs the night before so there's no dilly-dallying. They've had this drilled into them for as long as they can remember (DS2 has only recently started getting dressed entirely by himself though). First one to be dressed gets to play on the computer before school. No TV before school ever in our house, as they seem reluctant to leave it.

sageygirl · 03/03/2011 21:45

I once resorted to putting DS1's clothes on the doorstep, walking him out the door by the hand, locking the door and walking very slowly off, commenting that his teacher expected children to get dressed in the mornings before school. He caught up with me fully dressed before I was half way down the road. Problem solved. Has got ready perfectly ever since and it's now 2 years ago.

littlebylittle · 03/03/2011 22:04

Clothes after breakfast, second the not wearing comment. Help dd a bit sometimes, takes me as long to nag as to help. Varying countdowns. Clothes ready night before. Lots of praise. She's in reception. Ds, 2, very occasionally in pyjamas inside all in one suit, with no chance to escape from cosy toes . Plenty of time avoids tension in our house, although if that had to involve getting up earlier I am so rubbish that I'd doubtless choose shouting instead!!

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 03/03/2011 22:45

Agree with clothes after breakfast.
I allow TV for about 15 mins whilst they eat breakfast then it goes off (otherwise DS1 sits with a sock half on for 5 mins watching cartoons).
Clothes laid out the night before with the underwear on top as it goes on first.
Racing with me e.g. I bet you can't get your top on before I've finished brushing my hair etc.
I get up about 20 mins before the kids to sort myself out in peace.
and
If all else fails .....shout

beautifulgirls · 03/03/2011 22:57

We have races here, I always have to loose otherwise they loose interest!

PoppetUK · 03/03/2011 22:58

I've got 3 DC 6,5 and nearly 2. No one steps foot down stairs until they are totally dressed. The oldest two have until I am showered to be dressed before I start nagging. The stair gate only comes off once we are already. Fingers crossed by 750 - 8am! Downstairs and they eat breakfast whilst I make lunches. 820ish upstairs to clean teeth. Straight back down shoes and coat and time to leave. Absolute latest 8.35.

Threats normally consist of not having enough time to eat. (DS didn't get to each all of his toast on Monday and Tuesday because he was being annoying and slow). If they stop listening at the putting on shoes bit / coat stage then I pick them up stick them in the car and threaten them with wearing plimsols. Any arguing means I sit down until they stop and if they make themselves late they have to face the front office. Reward each holiday for 0 lates :)

PoppetUK · 03/03/2011 23:00

ps so I can spend time with the older two they go to bed a little later than toddler. Means I don't wake them up yet but lighter mornings will change this.

MrsShrekTheThird · 03/03/2011 23:04

what lots of others have said

dress them the night before - get everything out for/with them
Nobody sets foot downstairs unless fully dressed, teeth brushed, with shoes, bag and coat in hall
"you can watch TV if you are early. First one down chooses what to watch" (this works as there are three of them

CointreauVersial · 03/03/2011 23:09

We have driven to school with DD1 in PJs.

How fortunate that mummy saw fit to bring the school uniform in a plastic bag, to be changed into in the car, so avoiding any embarrassing "PJs-in-playground" moments........

I only had to do this once. She knew I would do it again, but funnily enough, I never needed to.

(Yes yes, I did all the lovely touchy-feely stuff first, but if that falls on deaf ears.....)

CointreauVersial · 03/03/2011 23:10

Also works on refusal to put shoes on. Frog-march them out in the rain in their socks. (Oooh, I'm mean).

Maryz · 03/03/2011 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cece · 03/03/2011 23:15

Yes I have only driven one child to school (the eldest) in their PJs. The threat of it alone now works on all subsequent DC, as DC1 nods sagely that yes mummy will take you to school in your PJs.

CointreauVersial · 03/03/2011 23:28

Cece we're so mean!

cece · 03/03/2011 23:48

got to be cruel to be kind

elphabadefiesgravity · 04/03/2011 00:04

Another one who has done the school in pyjamas thing too. Ds sobbed all the way to school but he was making dd late every day by his constant messing around.

Uniform was taken in a carrier bag then put on once we arrived in the car park.

They are brilliant now, they get up, get their own breakfast whilst I get myself ready have an extra 10 mins in bed

They are 7 and 9. They do occasionally play up when dh is home (he works away Tues-Fri and they know they have to be good when mummy is on her own!

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