Last year, we made the switch to screen free mornings for our toddler and this change has come with a huge improvement in how our days go – we are able to have slower, intentional mornings that are quieter and more peaceful.

We’ve also noticed that her mood in the rest of the day is better as she was able to start her day on the right foot and her best independent play happens in the morning.

Switching to screen free mornings will be tough for the first few days but I promise you’ll notice a huge improvement in your toddler’s mood after that! Today, I’m sharing 6 tips for you to make the shift to screen free mornings to simplify the transition.

1. Communicate the Changes

The first step is to talk to your toddler about the new routine in simple terms they can understand. For example, “In the mornings, we’re going to have fun without the TV.” Make sure everyone in the household is on board with the plan and remains consistent.

2. Pre-Breakfast Snack

Offering a pre-breakfast snack will hold your toddler over until you’re ready to serve the actual breakfast. Our toddler just has yogurt as a snack and goes off to play until breakfast is ready. This is a wonderful tip to use when you’re experiencing early morning wake ups too and maybe want to lie in. Bring in a few books or toys in bed with you and let them play while you snooze.

3. Prep and Eat Breakfast Together

Make breakfast a special time. Involve your toddler in simple breakfast preparations or create a fun breakfast ritual. We love to light a candle for breakfast

4. Prepare the Environment

The night before, you should prepare the environment for your child. It should only take a few minutes to arrange the play area with toys and activities that are easily accessible to your toddler. In the morning, keep screens out of sight to reduce temptation.

5. Model Behavior

Set an example by avoiding screens yourself in the morning. Engage in activities with your toddler to show that screen-free time can be fun and fulfilling. I enjoy reading while I drink my coffee and my toddler loves to pull up her own books to flip through during that time. Sometimes she also chooses to play!

6. Incorporate Screen-Free Alternatives

To transition off screen time in the morning, you can introduce a sensory activity to replace it. This is something as simple as play dough or kinetic sand at your toddler’s table.

Alternatively, you can set out a simple invitation to play if you’d like to keep it mess free. This is something that can really help with the transition period because your toddler is so used to watching tv as soon as they wake up that they most likely will be looking for what they’re supposed to be doing instead. 

You won’t do this forever, just until your toddler learns that mornings are for PLAY. You might even notice that their best play and creativity happens in the morning when they’re more alert and have a longer attention span.

Another thing I’d encourage you to do in the morning, post-breakfast, is get outdoors even if it’s just for 15 minutes. This can have a huge impact on mood and lead to more play later in the day.

Parting Thoughts

Understand that it might take some time for your toddler to adjust to the new routine. Be patient and persistent. By creating a structured and engaging morning routine, being consistent, and modeling screen free behavior, you can help your toddler transition to enjoying mornings without screens.

If you want to learn more about creating a daily rhythm, how to support independent play, strategies to reduce screen time and screen time alternatives, THIS resource is designed for you so you can learn to get things done without relying on screen time for your kids.