For many families, the process of getting dressed and out of the door can be a bit chaotic in the mornings. Sometimes there’s barely time for breakfast, so there’s definitely no time for family bonding, right? Well, not necessarily. With a few carefully selected routines, you can connect with your loved ones without adding stress to your day. Here are three rituals to add to your morning routine to bring your family closer together.

1.Music

Music is powerful, motivational, and memorable. Not only can it help wake the family up and start everyone’s day on the right note, but the perfect tune can become the “family theme song.” Pick a song that fits the family dynamic and makes everybody want to dance, then start playing it every morning. If you really love music, you can create a whole playlist. If you get tired of your designated theme song, you can always replace it with a new one. After playing it daily, your family will affectionately come to know the song as “our song,” instantly creating warm thoughts of family. 

2. A Shared Activity

For some families this activity will be sitting down at the dining room table for breakfast. For others, it will be morning yoga. For families short on time, it may be something as quick as cramming into the bathroom to brush their teeth at the same time. Whatever your family chooses to do, be intentional about sharing a morning activity where everyone is in the same place, at the same time, doing the same thing. On the surface, it won’t feel like a big deal. But years later, you’ll cherish the memory of the laughs you shared during those rushed mornings as you made silly faces in the bathroom mirror.

3. Verbalize One Thing You’re Looking Forward To

This quick practice is simple enough to make a habit of but meaningful enough to make an impact. By stating what you’re looking forward to, you’re starting your day with optimism and isolating the most positive aspect of what’s ahead. By listening to what everyone else in your family is looking forward to, you will learn a lot about the current events in their lives, every single day. This will help you stay in tune with each other, with very little effort. And with nothing more than a one-sentence check-in at the beginning of each day, you’ll have a starting point for a conversation to return to later in the day. 

Starting your day with family time is an investment worth making. Use these three tips to build family bonding into your morning routine. Looking back, your children will appreciate the effort you made to weave the importance of family in the fibers of each and every day.