Routines For Children

When a parent thinks about giving their children a routine it can freak them out because they automatically think they have to follow a strict schedule. But a routine is different, your not bound by a timed schedule, a daily routine just needs to flow in the same order everyday for it to work.

If everyday tasks are a struggle you as a parent end up settling & giving into your child's tantrums, like skipping brushing teeth, nap time, bedtime, the list can go on. A good routine will give your child structure & a sense of stabilities, which will lead to establishing good habits & better behavior. A good routine will give you as a parent more control & a lot less stress.

The most common excuse for a parent not having a routine set for their kids is fear that pushing a schedule is too much "structure" & it will dull your child's sense of creativity. But I feel you can still set a routine to guide your day & it will work as long as you use sensitivity.

Don't forget to remain flexible all your doing is setting a well-ordered & predictable environment for you child so be responsive to the individual needs of your children & yourself.

OUR DAILY GRIND

Mornings : Wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, & then get dressed.

Play time : Set activities for your child to do & join in

Caring for pets : We have a family pet & it is our children's responsibility to feed him daily.

Chores : Sort laundry, wipe down counters, & take out trash.

Nap time : This is for the smaller ones, my kids have moved past the daily naps. (man do I miss the silence that nap time use to bring)

Homework : After school my son gets a snack & he knows he has to do his homework or 20 minutes of reading.

Meal time : Have dinner as a family & everyone takes part in clearing the table afterwards. 

Bedtime : Take baths, tidy up the rooms, story time, say your prayers, they get tucked in & lights out.

 Of course time does play a roll in our day, the kids have to be up at 6am & in bed by 8pm. But everything else just seems to flow naturally for us. Before our routine was set mornings were chaotic, no one seemed to know what was expected of themselves to get up & out the door, now it runs smoothly. Our meal time used to be hectic, everyone was moody & hungry, just wanting to get in & out of the kitchen. Now we all sit down together & enjoy our dinner as a family, plus clean up is easier on mom because everyone knows to help out. Bedtime use to be the most dreaded part of the day, the kids would throw fits to stay awake, but now with our routine in place once they take their baths they automatically start winding down. Bed time is the most important one for me because if the order of our routine is changed the kids feel rushed & they will keep getting up & bothering because they can't sleep.

 

I hope this helps you parents who are trying to set a simple routine for your kids to follow. Leave a comment below to let me know about your daily routines.