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What’s the best way to help your child or children adjust to a routine? How can you ensure that they do everything that they need to do (homework, chores, activities) without sacrificing their health, sleep or getting into trouble?
Create a schedule for them.
Yes, a schedule for your child no matter what age he or she is can work wonders in helping them adjust, adapt and conform to a routine that will hopefully follow them into adulthood and beyond.
There are multiple benefits of instilling in your children at a young age the importance and necessity of establishing a routine:
- It helps to keep you from getting stressed out or feeling overwhelmed.
- You always know what to do, and decrease chances of being unproductive.
- You can adjust your life and other activities around your schedule when things are pre-planned.
Schedules and routines can start as early as the child is able to handle it. Babies benefit from routines of course, as do toddlers and pre-schoolers. But when children get to big school, establishing a schedule for them can be highly beneficial.
- Determine what activities they will participate in. Pencil the practice days and times into the family schedule.
- Have a pre-set time where the child will do their homework and nothing else. Focusing without distractions will help immensely.
- Set the nightly routine, writing it out on poster board if you can. Show them a time for room clean-up, showering, reading a book, brushing their teeth, etc.
- Yes, even schedule their play time. Presetting this will give them the time they need to be active, but also not interfere with other activities and responsibilities.
Once they are familiar with their schedule, they will start to do things automatically and actually prefer the comforts of a routine.