The Importance of Routines

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny” Frank Outlaw

Routines are a way to instill character into our children. Planning and sticking to the plan is a vital life skill. Regular schedules provide the day with a framework that puts order into a child’s world. Establishing routine is difficult for at first. However, it is important to note that while predictability can become tedious for adults, children thrive on sameness and repetition. Experts on child development state that routine’s and predictability in daily living and in relationships help children become more confident.

Routines begin from the first day of life, and often we find ourselves working with children who have not had the structure needed to thrive. When a person does not know what to expect, they show signs of anxiety and stress through challenging behaviors. By establishing routines and structure, it enables a child to feel secure in their environment. Knowing what to expect, diminishes a lot of negative, reactive behaviors.

Tips for Implementing Routines:

• Maintain regular mealtimes: Food is very important in all of our lives. It serves as more than just nourishment. Knowing that you will be taken care of in this area reduces anxiety.
• Wind down before bed: Introducing nightly rituals are soothing and take the battle out of bedtime. It’s important to start the bedtime routines and include a time for them to clean up and plan for the next day.
• Be consistent but flexible: Consistency is the key, but you have to make time for the unexpected. As soon as possible return to the routine.
• Be a role model: Children will look to the adults in their lives to understand how to react to challenging situations. Maintaining a calm demeanor helps to reassure children that they can overcome their own feelings of fear or anxiety.

References:
www.knowledgelearning.com/katrina/pdf/children.pdf
www.pbs.org/wholechild/parents/little.html