The secrets to a stress-free morning routine

Watch Video: The secrets to a stress-free morning routine by Alanna Levine, MD, ...
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The secrets to a stress-free morning routine

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Raising a self-reliant child not only benefits the child in terms of their feelings of independence, confidence, I can do it nature, but it also benefits the parents. Because if you instill the desire to be independent in your child early on, ultimately in the long run, it's going to be a time saver for you. For example, if you teach your children how to get dressed by themselves, how to brush their teeth by themselves, how to wash their hands and wash their faces by themselves, they'll begin to own these responsibilities. And they'll start to do them before you even ask them. In the beginning, it might take some gentle reminding and some nudging, but ultimately you'll see with time the children will start to do it on their own. So for instance, you might want to avoid saying, did you brush your teeth? did you brush your teeth? did you brush your teeth? But instead say, what are all the things you need to do in the morning? Did your forget anything? And that makes them think about all the different processes. For younger children, I recommend making a chart, before they can even read, and you can color the chart together of what their daily responsibilities are. So they know they need to wash their hands when they see the picture of the hands under the faucet. Or draw a picture of the toothbrush, and they know it's their responsibility to brush their teeth. And while they're doing all the things that are their responsibilities, they feel that they own, you can be doing the things that you need to do in the morning. You can be getting ready for work. You can be making breakfast. You can be talking on the telephone. And at the same time, your child is doing all the things they need to be doing to get ready.

Watch Video: The secrets to a stress-free morning routine by Alanna Levine, MD, ...

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Alanna Levine, MD

Pediatrician & Author

Dr. Alanna Levine is a New York-based pediatrician and a mom of two children.  As a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Levine frequently appears on television and in print speaking about breaking medical news and common parenting topics.  Dr. Levine is also a contributor for BabyCenter.com, on the board of advisors for GetSweaty.com, and on the executive committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Communications and Media.Dr. Levine sees patients at Orangetown Pediatric Associates in New York and is on staff at Nyack Hospital and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.   She completed her internship and residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital, received her medical degree at Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel, a master’s degree in medical sciences from Boston University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.

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