A song or a rhyme
In the army, soldiers march to rhymes and wake up to songs. It may seem brutal to them, but younger kids get a real kick out of these routines. Whether it's getting dressed to a rhyme and seeing if they can "beat the clock" before it ends, or waking up to a song you sing, this strategy really works. Try this familiar military song to get them up in the morning: "Hut, 2, 3, 4, get your feet up on the floor -- 5, 6, 7, 8, get up or you will be late!"
Evening prep
Every experienced parent will tell you that the more you do the night before to get ready for the next day, the better the morning will go. Pick out clothes in the evening, not when your kids are tired in the morning. Prepare lunches after dinner, or at least decide on what's going in tomorrow's lunch box. Look at the school calendar for any special events the next day. Is a payment due, is there a field trip scheduled? Be prepared with permission slips or checks already filled out so that it's not a hassle during the morning rush.
Special days
Kids often start to fade by midweek, making the latter part of the week tougher to keep them motivated (not unlike adults!). Planning activities on Wednesdays or Thursdays is often a good way to encourage them in the morning. Just start the drill off with a reminder like "Today is gymnastics" or "You're going to Monica's after school." These little teasers go a long way toward getting their eyes open. Often, the schools have built-in special days, such as Thursday park day or Friday art day.
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