| Routines can be incredibly beneficial. They are an | | | | will your child be more effective in class but your |
| integral part of most adult's lives. But it is not just | | | | child's teacher will appreciate their behaviour as |
| adults that can benefit from the use of routines. | | | | well. |
| Children also need routines in their lives too. Not | | | | After School Routines |
| only do routines make life simpler, they can also | | | | Upon your child's returning home after the school |
| help you in teaching your child new skills as well as | | | | day, another part of their day is ready for the |
| modifying their behavior. | | | | next routine. You should however, try to allow |
| What are some other ways a routine helps your | | | | some time for your child to relax and |
| child? Routines help build your child's | | | | decompress for a little while, before having them |
| self-confidence by helping them master skills. | | | | dive into their homework. To make sure their |
| Routines also help children learn how long tasks | | | | energy isn't waning, you can provide them with a |
| take to complete because they know exactly | | | | snack to refresh their body and mind. If they |
| what steps to take to complete something. | | | | have chores to do, this could be a good place to |
| The first thing to do in setting a routine for your | | | | include them in the routine, provided it fits your |
| child is to break up their day into sections. Then | | | | chore scheduling. Once the chores are finished, |
| you can create mini routines for the various parts | | | | they can move onto their homework. Who |
| of your child's day. As well, if there are particular | | | | knows, by doing things in this order they may |
| days where your child is involved in sports or | | | | actually want to do their homework if it means |
| other extra-curricular activities, be sure to | | | | not doing more chores! After school routines can |
| incorporate these activities into their routines. | | | | be helpful in showing your child how to manage |
| Having routines will allow your child to know what | | | | their time and teaching them how to allocate their |
| to expect and create less stress in their life, thus | | | | resources and determine priorities. |
| resulting in better behavior and attitude. | | | | Bedtime Routines |
| Here are a few tips on creating routines for | | | | Bodily grooming and care can be part of this |
| children: | | | | routine. Things like showering and brushing their |
| Morning Routines | | | | teeth should be included. Not only will this help |
| When school starts up again after summer, | | | | your child wind down after the day but it can also |
| Christmas, or spring break, mornings can definitely | | | | save them time the next morning by showering |
| become a hectic time of day. The creation of a | | | | the night before. This time can also be used to |
| morning routine ensures your child gets ready for | | | | select their clothes for the following day, and |
| school, has a much needed breakfast, and | | | | making sure all of their books and papers are |
| prepares and equips them with everything they | | | | packed in their backpack or book bag. Once all |
| need for the school day. From homework to | | | | these things are done, dependent on their age, |
| permission slips, routines encourage remembering. | | | | they can then settle in for a bedtime story or |
| Now, this remembering actually stems from | | | | reading time on their own. |
| preparation the previous day as morning routines | | | | So having said all this, obviously each family is |
| actually begin the night before with your child's | | | | going to be different. Because of this, no one |
| bedtime routine. We'll discuss this routine in more | | | | routine will satisfy every family's needs. Feel free |
| detail later. As for the AM, by having a morning | | | | to play around and determine what suits you and |
| routine of getting up at the same time, eating | | | | your children. You should strive to create the |
| breakfast, and dressing and grooming, your child | | | | routines that work best for your family and its |
| will have less stress and be well prepared for the | | | | specific situation because if you do, you will |
| day If they're less stressed, they'll feel much | | | | definitely see positive changes in your child's |
| better when they arrive at school and will be | | | | behavior and attitude. |
| more attentive and well behaved in class. Not only | | | | |