Routines can be used for many reasons, but two of the most important are ensuring children's health and safety, and helping children learn positive, responsible behavior. For example, children wash hands before they have snack, or must hold an adult’s hand when crossing the street. We must remember that we may have very high expectations for our children though they do not have the experience we have gained over the years and their perception is not diluted. Most kids see the world as it really is. Having this kind of structure in place throughout our own lives as well as our children's also helps to support their social skills. As babies grow, they come into contact with more people and begin to learn patterns and routines for social interaction. Greetings, good-byes, and chatting with others are examples of routine interactions that teach social skills. These interactions are also opportunities to help our children develop language skills and remember that all of this put together will define the mental and physical makeup of the person. Our younger generation relies on us to pave a steady, concrete path for them to follow.
Play-time and mealtime are two routines that are very social times for children and parents alike. Through talking, taking turns, sharing toys, learning to wait, and helping others during these activities, young children learn important social skills that will help them later on in school. Many children find it hard to deal with the transitions that they encounter. Depending on your child's temperament, transitions between activities may be easy or more difficult. Going from play to lunch, lunch to the store, the store to home, and especially transitioning to bed time can be challenging to say the least. Routines (like bedtime routines) can help make transitions easier. Some parents use a timer or a "5-minute warning" to prepare their toddlers for a change in activity which changes the brain physiology in the individual and can be an effective indicator.
Routines can be very satisfying for parents too. Not only do they make transitions easier for children - they also help ease adults into parenthood. The early stages of becoming a parent can be overwhelming and sometimes put a strain on marriage. We often walk around with our ego running riot being the predominant decision-maker, never realising that our children are their own person and it is their own personality that needs to be cultivated. It is obviously a good thing to teach them healthy habits but when we borderline a forceful technique we are heading for trouble such as rebellious kids and increased non-conformity. Daily routines are often thought of as just "maintenance" activities: meal time, running errands, getting ready for bed, taking baths but these everyday actions are rich opportunities to support your child’s learning and development, while having fun. Again, we focus on the child's development because it is the early stages that define the later life. (This book assumes that most adults have already mastered the basics).
Routines offer the chance to build self-confidence, curiosity, social skills, self-control, communication skills, and more. Routines provide the two key ingredients for learning, relationships and repetition so enjoy these "ordinary" moments with your child. If they are having fun with you, then they are learning, too!
Routines offer the chance to build self-confidence, curiosity, social skills, self-control, communication skills, and more. Routines provide the two key ingredients for learning, relationships and repetition so enjoy these "ordinary" moments with your child. If they are having fun with you, then they are learning, too!