Children need routine to have predictability in their lives. Children and teenagers become anxious when there is too much unknown and thrive when they know what to expect. Having a normal routine for daily and weekly activities brings comfort and consistency in a busy life.
Daily routines would be useful established around
- Getting ready
- Dinner, bath and bed
- Housework, homework and chores
- Play time and family time
Daily routines look different for each family in our school, in Australia and around the world, so if you haven’t already, consider making routines that work for your family. Having a routine helps to
- Have a healthy body clock- the body learns when to wake, when to rest, when to eat and when the sleep
- Teach values- children learn what is important to their family by how the family spends time
- Establish expectations- children complete activities without a power struggle when they know and are practiced in what comes next
- Foster independence- they know what to do when, and become confident doing things by themselves
- Be self-disciplined- children who practice routine are better able to manage their time
- Build anticipation- knowing what is ahead gives children an opportunity to become excited about spending time with Dad on Sunday or going to the park on Friday afternoon
- Cope with change- when certain aspects of life are regular and expected, kids can better deal with bigger outside changes such as moving house, divorce or illness
Establishing some regular and consistent routines can help you feel like you are doing a better job as a parent and free you and your kids up for more quality, fun time together. If you want to begin to establish routines for your family, start by writing a list of things that need to be done at certain times of the day and put them on display for everyone to see. Tick them off together and celebrate when a day is complete. After a while, it will be second nature and family life will flow much better!
Mrs Hayley Burns / Junior School Learning Support Coordinator
