The Olympic champion has shared her top tips on managing the school run as a new study found that parents are often faced with the daily challenge of getting their kids to school in time.
Parents are locked in an average of 10 morning “battles” with their youngsters each week – and only succeed in winning roughly half of them, new research has revealed. A survey of 1,200 mums and dads with children aged four to 17 discovered that the most challenging battles are getting their kids to go to bed on time, to tidy their rooms and the daily fight to get sleepy kids from their beds.
Other common sources of disagreement are the age-old television-versus-homework argument, getting children to clean their teeth, and convincing them that a nutritious breakfast beats a fistful of sweets.
Despite beginning the academic year with good intentions, more than half of parents (53%) confess that morning mayhem has swiftly returned since lessons restarted, with 60% claiming the first term is the most difficult to handle.
She said: “My career taught me so much about the importance of structure and discipline and it’s still such an important part of how I live my life.
“I’m a firm believer that with the right preparation and organisation, you can balance busy lives and conflicting schedules without sacrifices and want to instil this in my kids too.
“We have no devices at the breakfast table, and now they are a bit older I encourage them to prep for school the night before – laying out their uniforms and gym kit gives them autonomy and makes them feel more responsible.
“Breakfast sets you up both physically and mentally. This doesn’t just apply to the school run, but to any morning routine, be it going to work or going to a gym class.”
Discussing Dame Ennis-Hill’s visit to Nether Edge Primary School in Sheffield, where pupils took place in an obstacle course designed to set them up for success, year 5 class teacher, Mrs Gilpin, said: “She’s a Sheffield star, which means our children can see themselves reflected in her. And it inspires them to be the best they can be and shows them that everything is possible.”
The study found 36% of mums and dads believe mornings are tougher to navigate than bedtimes. More than half blamed the stress of getting out the door on time as the primary reason why.
Which is why it’s perhaps no surprise that 69% would welcome advice on how to bring more structure to the start of the day.
Christian Sarginson, spokesperson for Weetabix, said: “The structure of term-time can feel overwhelming for parents – especially when they are juggling multiple children, schedules, and responsibilities – often before they’ve even had their first sip of tea.
“These are challenges every parent knows only too well, and that’s why we wanted to explore what’s really going on in UK households.
“Our research found that nearly 70 per cent of parents would benefit from advice or tips to help create a calmer, more structured morning routine and so we hope that Jessica’s advice can help this.”
Speaking about bringing Dame Jessica Ennis Hill, Sir Mo Farah, Leah Williamson and Ade Adepitan together to share their stories of success and help others achieve their goals, he added: “Whether that’s managing the morning better, or nailing a new promotion, the all-stars are here to empower Brits to do so, no matter how big or small.
“We believe a good day starts with a good breakfast – and a bit of structure can go a long way in helping families feel more in control.”
TOP 20 CHALLENGES FOR PARENTS:
- Getting them to go to sleep at a reasonable hour
- Getting them to tidy their bedroom
- Getting them out of bed in the morning
- Getting them to complete their homework
- Getting them to switch off the TV or tablet
- Getting them to brush their teeth properly
- Getting them to leave the house on time
- Getting them out of the door in time for school
- Getting them to eat their breakfast
- Stopping them insisting it’s “not bedtime yet” because it’s still light outside
- Getting them to put their coat on when it’s cold
- Brushing their hair without drama
- Getting them to eat fruit and vegetables
- Getting them to put their uniform on
- Getting them to read their school book
- Getting them to eat a healthy, balanced breakfast
- Stopping them from ruining their dinner with sweets/snacks
- Getting them to say please and thank you
- Stopping them from arguing over what’s for dinner
- Stopping them from asking “why” over and over
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