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![]() A simple daily schedule helps children understand expectations, manage time effectively, and develop important life skills.Ĭreating a daily schedule for kids is an opportunity to strike the right balance between structure and flexibility. My children are now 12 and 9 and you’d think we’d have nailed the morning routine down yet there are days when there’s a last minute snafu – like a long trip in the bathroom, for instance.In today's fast-paced world, establishing a smooth-sailing daily routine for children can bring a sense of stability and organization to their lives. If you find there is always a step in the morning or evening routine that gets out of whack, choose a calmer moment during the day to talk about it and problem solve, then discuss it with your child. They will need practice, encouragement, and more practice. ![]() Stay calm and recognize that they need direct instruction from you on how to do most things. Our children are learning to navigate a sometimes crazed and scheduled world that their brains are not yet ready for. Maybe they will enjoy a favorite song in the car on the way to school, or a trip to the library when you pick them up. ![]() Plainly laying out what comes first, and what comes next, then a fun thing they can expect after they’re done with those steps can help your child break down the routine into smaller bites especially if the ‘ then’ is something they enjoy. This strategy can be successful in the classroom, so why not use it at home? Often there are one or two steps of the morning/evening routine that are particularly difficult to execute at home. To make them even more effective, you could also take pictures of children actually doing the steps (take a pic of them brushing their teeth, putting on their shoes, etc.) and have them help you make the chart with you. There are plenty of charts online, (see examples below). Visual cues can be a huge help for your little ones when establishing a good routine. Make a chart for both morning and evening routines.This includes turning off screen-related activities a good hour or so before bedtime. Try to allow for at least an hour of time between the last activity of the day and lights out to allow your child(ren) time to decompress and relax before bedtime. This can be tough especially if work schedules and older kids’ evening activities go late. Make sure everyone is getting enough sleep. ![]() Whether it’s waking up earlier or allowing for more time in the evening, pad the day with more time to do what needs to get done in the morning and evenings. Planning ahead for the next day can also mean packing lunches, talking about changes to the day the night before (if nanny is picking up instead of mommy), and getting bookbags ready by the door with what they need. When the outfit is picked out beforehand, the morning goes a lot more smoothly. I have learned the hard way that when we do not do this, it can take several precious minutes of the morning deciding what to wear and arguments ensue when frustrations arise. It often helps my daughter and me to pick out an outfit for the next day the night before. Here are some tips in establishing routines at home: Understanding and following routines also allow for practicing vital executive functioning skills: focusing, starting tasks and following them to completion, regulating, organizing – all these result from establishing routines in the home. Children thrive when there are routines in place that are predictable. Only when children feel safe can they learn, play, and engage with their environment. Oftentimes there is a time crunch to get somewhere or the impatience to just get them to bed so we can relax.Įstablishing routines plays an important role in children’s lives because within the safety structure of the day, basic needs are met. Mornings and evenings are often the hardest parts of the day because energy levels are just ramping up or they are flagging. Or perhaps there are other times during the day or week when it’s just chaos and you barely got to wherever you needed to go or got them to bed without losing your sanity several times. UGH, now we’re going to be late - I’ll just do it!”ĭoes your morning routine kind of sound like this? Maybe there are days when all is smooth sailing and there are blue skies while getting your kids ready for the day.
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