Getting Out the Door System

If you’re tired of leaving the house feeling flustered and frustrated, take a look at the seven routines I set up for my family to take up from chaos to calm. I put these system into place almost a decade ago and they’re still supporting my family. From toddlers to tweens, these ideas can help get you out the door.

Table of Contents:

1. The Dreaded Last Minute Delays
2. 1. Review the day’s plan
3. 2. Create common family language
4. 3. The “Magic Carpet”
5. 4. A sock holder by the front door
6. 5. Hair supplies at the door
7. 6. Have kids carry things to the car
8. 7. Keep entertainment in the car
9. Getting out the door doesn’t have to bring you to your wits’ end.

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The Dreaded Last Minute Delays

Is there anything worse than trying to get out the door and getting caught in every last delay?

Missing socks.
One more diaper change.
A last bathroom break.
Where are the water bottles?
When’s the last time their hair was brushed?
Where even is the hairbrush?!

AND NOW, WE’RE LATE!

I hate feeling flustered. It might be my very least favorite feeling in the whole world. And leaving the house with a newborn, toddler, and preschooler? Talk about flustered.

Back 10 years ago, I knew I couldn’t live like that every time we needed to go somewhere, and staying home forever wasn’t really an option. 

I needed systems. I needed a plan. And I needed, maybe most of all, to get my kids on board with my plan. This wasn’t going to be up to me alone. Getting us all on the same page was key.

Here are the seven concrete steps I took years ago to help us get out the door. At ages 12, 11, and 9, this system is still going strong for my family.

Looking for a better daily routine?

Check out Playing Preschool: A meaningful way to build memories and family connection.

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1. Review the day’s plan

My kids do best when they’re informed participants rather than just along for the ride. We talk through the general flow of the day using routine landmarks, not exact times. This works for us the night before or at breakfast.
 
For my youngest who can read, I have a small notebook in his room where I can write these small schedules to give him an update to read before bed and when he wakes up.

2. Create common family language

Language shortcuts work well for my kids. “Fast morning” is a phrase I started using when my oldest was a toddler. If a morning will move quickly, it’s deemed a “fast morning.” My kids know this means we wake up and get going with purpose. Everyone is on the same page without needing a lengthy explanation.

3. The “Magic Carpet”

When my kids were toddlers and preschoolers, I deemed our front doormat the “magic carpet.” Its job was to magically transport us out of the house as long as people stayed sitting on it. I taught my kids to wait on this rug in the final minutes before we leave. 

This allowed me to keep them corralled while I did a last walk-through of the house to make sure I had everything. The bonus: this gave me a second to breathe and leave the house with a clear head.

4. A sock holder by the front door

Years ago, I realized socks had become a problem. Not a likely offender, but they were for my family. Running back to bedrooms for socks sent my kids in different directions, away from our exit point, and easily distracted by toys they passed along the way. 

My solution was a hanging organizer on our coat closet door. All their socks live right by the front door. They can sit on the magic carpet, put on their socks, and reach for their shoes without scattering.

5. Hair supplies at the door

I also keep hair supplies in the bathroom by the front door because I always seem to realize I haven’t touched their hair when we are literally walking out.

Knowing I have everything I need in the powder room, just steps from the door, keeps our out-the-door flow moving.

6. Have kids carry things to the car

Once kids can walk, they can help.

Start with just their water bottle or coat and work up from there. Kids are often more physically capable than we remember (my friend Preethi says that all the time). At the big kid stage, my kids pick up items from the front door area and carry them to the car without question because they’ve been taught to do so.

7. Keep entertainment in the car

I keep fidget spinners, small toys, and books in the car so my kids know entertainment is coming. Once they get in and are buckled, they have something to focus on. And since these live in the car, I don’t have one more thing to remember.

This buys me a moment to pause and get myself together in the driveway now that we are actually out, loaded, and ready to go. Here’s a link to what I keep in the car for big kids and for little kids.

Looking for more magic and memories with big kids?

Check out the Branches curriculum: A meaningful way to enjoy the learning journey together.

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Getting out the door doesn’t have to bring you to your wits’ end.

And it isn’t a struggle you have to sit with “until the kids get older.” I began so many of these systems when my kids were the tiniest humans. More than a decade later, what I put into place is still supporting our family.

Every age, every stage benefits from systems.

If leaving without feeling like your hair is on fire is a goal for your family, I hope you have a chance to reflect on where things are derailing and start sorting through what might help. Weave in new procedures one at a time to give yourself the space (and grace) to learn a new system.

Remember, clear expectations, shared responsibility, and simple routines can turn chaos into something manageable.

Susie Allison, M. Ed

Susie Allison is a former elementary school teacher with a Master’s in Early Childhood Education. She’s also the creator of Busy Toddler with more than 3 million followers across social media. Susie is the author of the popular Playing Preschool curriculum and recently launched Branches, her elementary-level homeschool program. For more than a decade, Susie has been a trusted voice online in parenting and education.