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!±8± Setting a Routine For Your Children

A set daily routine helps adults be more productive. It helps children for a very different reason - a routine keeps them happy and out of trouble. A daily routine also gives small children security and confidence. Children do need time every day where they can play and explore. A rigid routine full of back-to-back structured activity isn't good for our children, and many young children suffer from days full of carpools and "enriching" activities. However, children do need a good routine to their day.

Start off structuring the day by planning meal times. Our days revolve around our meals in a sense - they provide a needed break from the activities of the day, a time to refresh ourselves, and a time to reconnect. Go ahead and decide what times you want to eat. If you serve snacks to your children, plan those times as well.

If you have young children who are still at home, plan a time for a walk every day. Also plan a nap time, or at least a "quiet time" where you teach your child to sit quietly and rest or look through a book. The walk, often good first thing in the morning, gives your child a chance to use some energy and to explore and learn. The quiet time, best in the early afternoon lets everyone recharge their batteries.

Include time for chores in the daily routine. Even the smallest child can learn to do chores. If your child can pull toys out, he or she can put them away! Little children can learn to wipe tables, rinse dishes, and pair socks. Older children should be given a good amount of responsibility. Chores are much easier if they're incorporated into the daily routine. Simply say "it's time to do chores" and leave no other option. Little toddlers can do chores alongside you as they're learning.

Have a story time for your young children. An arts and crafts time is also a good idea. These blocks of time can fill hours that an older child may be at school. Home schooled children can have blocks of time set aside for lessons. I recommend you set aside an hour or two for uninterrupted play for older children in the afternoon. This time should be spent with them exploring outside, or inside doing something meaningful, like using building toys, crafts, reading, etc. Don't let them sit and play video games or watch TV.

If you live in an area where you don't feel safe letting your children go outside, or if they have had trouble in the past and you're not ready to trust them on their own, then set these afternoon hours to be time with you. You can include your child in work or errands that you need to do. Or take them out hiking, walking, fishing, do crafts with them, etc. This will let you keep a close eye on them, and it will build your relationship together.

A sample day for a young child might look like this:

Breakfast Morning chores with Mama Walk outside (all weather) Story time Singing and finger plays Snack Art and Crafts Free play until lunch Lunch Short outside playtime Nap time Snack Story Free play Clean Up Supper helper Supper Play with Daddy Bath Story Bedtime

This daily routine and structure will hold a young child and help them feel comfortable and secure. You may have certain days of the week when you visit the library or run errands. Your child will get used to this bigger, weekly routine as well. A child who knows what to expect is a happy, content child that feels in control and secure with his or her world.