Why is it so important? Because it allows children to feel secure and to predict what will happen next. Research shows that children who have a daily routine often are better behaved and could perform better at school.
Here are some ideas as to where to start:
- Build a routine around the times people in your family wake up, eat and sleep.
- Include transition times as part of the routine. For example, say, “We have 10 minutes left before we start getting ready for bed."
- Have a bedtime ritual, which will help children slowly calm down, and allow them to associate certain activities with getting sleepy. Our favorite? Reading books before bedtime!
- If there's one activity, like tooth brushing, which is a nightly sticking point, set up a Reward Chart to deal with it. We like to use stars stickers as a reward. After your child earns 5 or 10, you can give a prize!
We have attached our home-made behavior chart! You can color one star each time your child follows directions. Let us know if you decide to try this at home!