Create a morning routine with CBeebies
In the morning with so much to do, and not always enough time to do it, things can feel busy, to say the least! Establishing a morning routine can help you and your family stay on track with everything you need to do. Whether you're getting everyone ready for the nursery drop-off before work, or catching a train to an event or to visit family, a routine can make things feel more manageable. Help your little one learn daily habits and create a routine with their favourite CBeebies friends.
Index
Use these simple links to jump to a different section of the page below. Example:Is your child struggling with toothbrushing? Jump straight to section 2 by selecting 2. Brushing Teeth.
Routine building with your little ones
If there’s big change coming up, like your little one is starting school or going back to school after the summer, a change in routine can be a challenge. Use our morning plan and get inspiration from CBeebies favourites to help build new habits and ensure your family are ready to head out the door.
What is a routine?
A routine means doing the things we need to do every day at the right time. When your child starts school, they might have a new routine to make sure they get to school on time.
In our guide, we highlight six main tasks for your child to get comfortable with to build healthy morning habits. They include waking up, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, using the toilet and washing hands, getting dressed, and packing a bag before heading out the door.Your morning routine might look different, but it should include most of these tasks if possible. To help your child develop these habits, we've built a guide with the help of some favourite CBeebies characters.
Top tip: Create a visual timetable
It's a good idea to discuss your new routine with your little one or even create a timetable together so they can see what tasks are coming up. Use this printable activity from Pablo to plan a daily routine with visual cues to guide you through the day, and refer to the weekly plan to know what to expect throughout the week.
1. Waking up
Does your child struggle to wake up in the mornings? Check out our top tips to ensure your little one rises well-rested to start the day.
The best way to establish a morning routine all starts with the night before with a consistent bedtime routine. Learn more from our CBeebies Parenting bedtime routine guide or check out the CBeebies Parenting podcast on sleeping through the night on BBC iPlayer.
Listen to our waking up song with CBeebies House and help your child learn the right steps to start the day with a stretch and a smile.
If you want your child to get into the habit of waking up at the same time and learn all the days of the week, you could sing the Days of the Week song to start your morning routines.
Move to the beat! Dance and stretch to get you and your little one up and moving in the morning with our CBeebies songs.
🎶 Sing along with Something Special 'Make the Bed' song.
🎶 Get ready for your day and sing and sign ‘This Is The Way’ with Mr Tumble.
🎶 Rock out with the 'Get Ready' jam session at CBeebies House.
2. Brushing teeth
Need some ideas to help get your little ones to brush their teeth for the recommended two minutes, twice a day?
We know encouraging children to brush correctly or for long enough can be a challenge, so CBeebies has plenty of resources to help them set healthy habits for happy smiles.
Listen to our toothbrush songs to help your child learn the right steps to start a tooth brushing habit and keep it.
🪥 ☀️ Join Duggee and Squirrels for a lively song and dance to show your child how to brush their teeth in the morning. The Toothbrushing Song lasts for approximately 2 minutes, so it's the perfect length of time for your child to brush properly and they can follow along.
🪥 🌙 Sing along with Bing as he explains his toothbrushing rules with a slow and steady song for winding down at night. If your child struggles to brush their teeth for long enough, play or sing this song to help them concentrate and brush every tooth.
🪥 🤗 Check out this clip from Maddie + Triggs to dance and brush. Maddie is brushing her teeth so well, keeping them sparkly and clean, that her pearly white teeth begin to perform a song for her! Tickling teeth is a great way to encourage regular brushing habits.
Remember, encourage your child to:
1. Brush twice a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime.
2. Brush gently! Brush each tooth round and round, side to side and up and down.
3. Take two minutes to brush their teeth.
4. Use a little bit of toothpaste, not too much!
Combine with active challenges
Challenge and praise your little one with our Hey Duggee Toothbrush Reward Chart - you could even add stickers for extra encouragement.
Earn your toothbrushing badge with Hey Duggee's tooth brushing game.
Want some expert help from CBeebies Parenting about toothbrushing?
🦷 Teething and brushing: when to add brushing to routine
3. Eating breakfast
Eating breakfast is important for your child as it helps them power through the day. Fussy eaters might turn down food first thing in the morning, but perseverance and communication is key.
Sing along to Hey Duggee's Top of the Pups with Tino’s breakfast song. It's the most important meal of the day!
Combine with active challenges
🥣 Watch the Wonderblocks Go and Stop help a family of bears get breakfast ready. Can your child get the order for their cereal right?
🍳 Stop in at Justin's House for an unusual breakfast. Can your child name all the breakfast foods from Justin's House?
Need expert advice about ways to help your child’s development during mealtimes?
Get your child excited for mealtimes with an upbeat tune from CBeebies House. Can your child join in and say what's on their plate?
CBeebies Parenting: Give your child choices about their breakfast to encourage engagement
Cook up some tasty dishes from our CBeebies recipes
🥞 Make some Elmo pancakes from Furchester Hotel.
🥬 Try a healthy Ugandan rolex from My World Kitchen.
⭐️ Whip up a starry breakfast sky plate with Big Cook Little Cook.
Cooking together?
🫐 Child-friendly breakfast ideas you can make together with CBeebies Parenting
4. Going to the toilet and hand-washing
Going to the toilet on their own is a really important skill for children to learn, especially for efficient morning routines. CBeebies has plenty of resources to help you and your child master toilet training.
Help your child transition from nappies, to the potty and the toilet with some catchy CBeebies songs.
🧷 Wave goodbye to your nappies and sing The Toilet Song from The Toddler Club.
🚽 Dance with Duggee and the Squirrels as they teach Duggly how to use the potty.
🚂 Sing along with Bing on the Toilet Train - "Stop the train for me! Choo-choo!"
Don't forget to wash your hands!
🧴 Watch Evie from CBeebies House teach you how to wash your hands properly.
🤲 Dr Ranj has a song about how important it is to wash your hands from Get Well Soon.
🧼 Sing and dance along with Mr Tumble to the 'Washing Hands' song.
Get practical advice from CBeebies Parenting on how to start potty training your child and tips for independent toileting.
Still need support with potty training? Watch CBeebies Parenting guide for potty training prep and introduce the habit in a fun and encouraging way.
Remember the basics:
Simple clothing, like elasticated waistbands, can help.
Encourage independent dressing - they will get better with practice.
Encourage hand washing as a habit.
Regular drinks will help them and their bladder capacity.
Talk to the professionals - teachers or health visitors can offer good advice.
Don't miss the CBeebies Parenting podcast on potty training on BBC iPlayer.
5. Getting dressed
Bellies full, hands washed and teeth brushed, your little one is ready to dress to impress. Learn some tips and tricks to make the process as easy as possible.
👟 Sing along and help your little one tie their shoes with The Shoelace Song from Something Special.
🎀 Find out how to do the cutest hair do with CBeebies Hair Hacks!
Combine with active challenges
Play dress up with Hey Duggee to get your child used to making choices about their clothes.
Play games with your child as they get dressed to make the experience fun, like asking which piece of clothing they would prefer to put on or where they should wear it. Socks on your hands? Make the choices fun and silly so your child can learn without pressure.
Need some expert help? Get ready for the day with tips and tricks from CBeebies Parenting.
Starting school? Hey Duggee is on the case to help school kids get ready for school in a new film for first-time students.
If you and your little one love documentary style films, check out Time For School on BBC iPlayer where we follow a group of first time students as they start primary school for the first time.
6. Packing a bag
Before your child can start the day, they need to make sure they have their bag packed, whether that's for a playdate, a school day or a fearless adventure. You never know what the day might hold and giving them agency over their bags will help them plan ahead.
Combine with active challenges
🎒 Pack your bag with Time for School: click or tap on the useful item that you should pack in your bag.
Pack Mr Tumble's spotty bag: Mr Tumble is going out and needs your help choosing what to take.
Does your little one have everything they need?
📋 Activity: Help your child make their own checklist for items they might need today. Use our sample checklist as a place to start.
Sample checklist:
🍪 A snack
🚰 Water or a drink
🧥 A coat
📚 School books
✍️ Pens or pencils
🥪 Lunchbox
What else do you think your child might need? You can find more hints and tips with CBeebies Parenting on packing a bag together.
Finally, before heading out for the day, encourage your child to make final checks.
Coat on? Check. ✅
Shoes tied? Check. ✅
What about a water bottle? Check. ✅
Ready to go!
Sing along with Dodge from Dodge's Pup School as he shows us how proud he is to be ready on time - with his coat zipped, shoes on and drink in hand.
As the year gets colder and darker, suggest they go to the window and check the weather. Will they need a coat or hat? CBeebies Parenting has tips for helping your child dress for the weather whatever the season.
Out the door
With that, your child will have completed their morning routine. Commitment and patience is key to turning this routine into a habit. Every day is different, but over time these tasks will become second nature to speed up your mornings and kick-start the day.
Start your day with an iPlayer episode
Watch your favourite CBeebies episodes to learn morning routines on BBC iPlayer.
Hey Duggee: The Getting Ready Badge
Starting school?
If your child is starting school in September, CBeebies has more resources that will help ease the transition. Check out our interactive quiz about talking with your child about starting school, including opening a discussion about feelings, learning, making friends and building routines.
Starting school hub: Find more articles and games to help you and your child embark on their school adventure.
What is school readiness?: Learn about what is expected of your child before their first day with CBeebies Parenting 'skills for starting school'.
