Routine Tickets for Kids

When my kids were little we had a routine chart like this.

It was posted in their rooms and because we didn’t have to rush off to school in the early days, we took our time doing all the things to get ready for the day step by step. They were slow, but practicing their routines daily helped prepare for bigger days ahead.

Fast forward, they are in elementary school and we are ready and out the door by 8 am. We moved houses and with two levels and I quickly realized having one chart wasn’t working out anymore. It was a constant running up and down the stairs forgetting something, or me constantly reminding them to do every step. “Did you get your shoes? Did you brush your teeth? Don’t forget your lunchbox?” They were frustrated…and I was frustrated.

Thus, “The Ticket” was born!! This was their chart they had been used to but in a smaller, portable form. Now instead of asking if they’ve done every single item to get ready I just say 4 Magic Words: Work On Your Ticket.

How it works:

Kids have a morning, afternoon & nightly card with all the steps they need to do in that time. It fits and stays in a Badge/ID holder found online, Walmart, Target, etc. Each card can slip in and out and they rotate their cards based on what routine they are working on. You can make this as fancy or as simple as you’d like. I prefer a little simpler the better. And because the badge holders are plastic, my kids are old enough to carry a dry erase marker to cross off the steps as they do it.

How to make Kids Routine “Tickets”

Grab a pack of Badge/ID holders from Walmart, Target, etc.

Make 3 cards that fit into the size of the Badge/ID holder you have

Type or write their morning, afternoon and night routine steps on each card

If you have smaller kids, make sure to include pictures next to each step

Dry erase marker for older kids (to cross off steps)

Now all you have to say in the morning, after school or night is “Work on your ticket” and you know all the steps will be done…Yay! :)

*Tip: Tell your kids they need to have their ticket done by a certain time to keep them on track or encourage them to get done quickly.

Now my 2 year old asks for “ticket” in the morning when the girls are off getting ready for the day. He’s not quite ready to soar like his sisters, but he’s well on his way to being a step closer to getting ready by himself :)

Hopefully this helps smooth out the morning, afternoon and night routines to feel more peace together and enjoy your interactions with joy instead of frustration!