{"id":3989,"date":"2018-08-10T20:50:59","date_gmt":"2018-08-11T01:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mindonmed.com\/?p=3989"},"modified":"2018-10-09T17:02:32","modified_gmt":"2018-10-09T22:02:32","slug":"less-stressful-morning-routines-for-young-kids-with-the-joy-octopus-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.mindonmed.com\/2018\/08\/less-stressful-morning-routines-for-young-kids-with-the-joy-octopus-watch.html","title":{"rendered":"Less Stressful Morning Routines for Young Kids with the JOY Octopus Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TwinOne of the more difficult things for me figure out as a working mom has been when and how to let my babies have more independence.<\/p>\n

The reason for this is two-fold. On one hand I truly enjoy doing things for them and want to let this phase linger as long as it can. On the other hand, I am goal-oriented and thrive on efficiency, so I sometimes struggle with letting the kids work longer to achieve something I could do for them in half the time (especially when we\u2019re running late!).
\nA few months ago we started having the twins (who are 5yo) use an alarm clock to get up and get ready on their own. They loved it, but I felt like I spent my whole morning coordinating their to-do list and reminding them what else to do (teeth brushed? lovey in backpack? shoes & socks?). Since this inevitably interfered with my own ability to get the morning going efficiently, it seemed their move towards independence would just end in chaos or yelling.
\n\"Smiling
\nWe tried chore charts, reminder pictures, and traditional methods as well…everything just kinda fell flat or got forgotten quickly.<\/p>\n

The post below contains affiliate links and an honest review of an item we were gifted, but not paid to discuss.<\/em><\/p>\n

Then we found Octopus watches<\/a> by JOY FAMILYTECH which have, quite literally, revolutionized our morning routine.<\/p>\n

\n

This watch gives them independence and makes morning routines so much less stressful.<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

They offered to send the girls a couple of watches in exchange for sharing our experiences, which I had planned to do just briefly on Instagram. However, they\u2019re helping our mornings run so much smoother that I decided I needed to write an actual post here where it would stay searchable for internet-land and linkable for me.<\/p>\n

Use “MamaDoctorJones”<\/a> for 20% off.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Why do we love JOY Octopus watches?<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \u00a0No reading required.<\/strong>
    \nThe icon-feature with no reading was a big hit!<\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0We set our own routine.<\/strong>
    \nYou program a routine on the app and can schedule things in a variety of ways. Then you sync the plans to the watches. Routines can be on\/off by day-of-the week and it’s really nice to have them repeat for each weekday.<\/li>\n
  3. \u00a0It\u2019s not distracting.<\/strong>
    \nThis watch doesn\u2019t have games, frills, or extras and we truly love it BECAUSE of this.<\/li>\n
  4. \u00a0We\u2019re frustrated so much less.<\/strong>
    \nThe watch reminding the girls to do things is not only more effective than me, but it\u2019s way less frustrating for all of us.<\/li>\n
  5. \u00a0The kids LOVE them and their new independence!<\/strong>
    \nI think they love the fact that they have expectations and a routine to follow each morning. Or maybe they love the new independence it\u2019s providing, but they\u2019ve been using them every weekday for a few weeks now and still get excited when they finish everything in their morning routine.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    We had tried traditional reward calendars, magnetic reward calendars<\/a>\u00a0(which we loved, but just didn’t use regularly enough), yelling, begging, and had finally just gotten to where we seemed to be doing everything for them. This wasn\u2019t cutting it, especially with a 2yo to get ready and another brother on the way. I can\u2019t say enough good things about how much easier our mornings are now.<\/p>\n

    There are a few features we\u2019d like to see added, so in the name of full disclosure I want to include a couple of those here.<\/p>\n

    Cons\/Features We’d Like To See Added:<\/h2>\n