Unfortunately, it is quite a common occurrence for households to experience a child who seems to take forever to get ready in the morning. Distractions, dressing slowly, forgetting things, eating breakfast slowly, are a normal part of childhood and family life from time to time. One of the most effective strategies is to provide more time for the leaving the house routine. Whilst this may mean getting up or starting the whole procedure earlier, it can often avoid stress and anxiety. It also provides time for children to have to take some responsibility for getting themselves ready without feeling highly pressured. Employing a consequence, (as discussed in Chapter 3) if you feel the child requires some additional prompting or encouragement, may be appropriate.