Hello, this is Steve Whewell with excelled Montessori. This month’s topic: the importance of routines and schedules in a child’s life.
One of the things I observed in my own children when their schools closed due to covid-19 was that they automatically wanted to slip into “summer mode” and we all know what that means. Lots of video games, staying up late, and getting up even later. Basically, no structure at all. And we all know that does not bode well with working independently and turning in assignments on
time … or even at all.
In an interview by Health and Wellness of Harold Koplewicz, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, he said, “The most important thing you can do right now … (is) provide routines and schedules.” He goes on to say, “Re-establishing household routines ALWAYS eases a child’s anxiety, especially during a time of so much uncertainty.”
Do you know why children behave so much better at school (for the most part) than they do at home? Because most teachers have established routines for EVERYTHING.
There’s a routine to sharpen pencils. There’s a routine to turn in work. There’s a routine to go to the bathroom. AND THEY PRACTICE THESE ROUTINES DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY
So here are 3 of the top reasons you should create consistent routines for your babies and toddlers at home…
- Routines help children feel safe because they create predictable boundaries and give them a sense of stability.
- Routines help children learn self-control.
And 3. Routines help support and develop children’s social and language skills.
The world around us is constantly changing. As parents, it is our responsibility to bring peace and reassurance to the little eyes watching and looking up to us every day, and it is comforting to know by adding just a few simple routines and schedules into their daily lives, we can make a world of difference.
This has been the excellerator with Steve Whewell.
During the past year, many parents and children have worked, juggled, and struggled through ZOOM calls together from the Kitchen table.