Most hectic mornings are decided the night before. The shoes that cannot be found, the permission slip that needs a signature, the lunch that still has to be made: each one is a two-minute job at 8 p.m. and a crisis at 7:45 a.m.

Start with a launch pad by the door. A basket or hook for each child holds backpacks, shoes and anything that needs to leave the house tomorrow. Before bed, everything goes in its spot. In the morning, nobody hunts.

Lay out clothes the night before, weather permitting. For younger children, letting them choose between two outfits gives them a sense of control without opening a twenty-minute debate.

Keep breakfast boring on weekdays. Two or three reliable options that children can help themselves to, such as cereal, yogurt and fruit, or toast with peanut butter, mean fewer decisions and faster starts. Save pancakes for Saturday.

Finally, build in ten spare minutes. The morning that runs perfectly is rare; the one with a little slack for a lost glove or a last-minute hug is the one that leaves everyone in a better mood.