{"id":"432e4e49a0657a7378989cdaa3b67528","slug":"get-5yearold-stop-stalling-during-gettingreadyforschool","question":"How do I get my 5-year-old to stop stalling during the getting-ready-for-school routine?","answer":"Stalling at getting-ready time is genuinely common at five, and the good news is that it typically responds well to structure and consistency rather than pressure. The research suggests that what works best is keeping routines predictable—same order, same timing each day—so your child knows what comes next without having to be told repeatedly. Visual schedules (pictures showing each step) can help a five-year-old move through the routine more independently, since they're following a concrete guide rather than waiting for your instructions.\n\nTime pressure itself often makes stalling worse, so building in a few extra minutes before you actually need to leave takes some of the urgency out of the room. Praise effort and speed when your child does move through the routine smoothly (\"you got your shoes on so fast\") rather than waiting until everything's done. Avoid power struggles over the pace—your five-year-old may simply move more slowly than you'd like, and that's developmentally normal.\n\nIf this is becoming a genuine daily battle that exhausts everyone, it's worth mentioning to your child's teacher or doctor to make sure there's nothing else going on, but most five-year-olds settle into routines once they feel predictable and calm.","sources":"[]","thread_json":null,"topic":"parenting-routines-and-transitions","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-10-23T23:00:41.754Z"}