A consistent routine will help your child with their “body clocks” and many daily basics. Find the top 10 reasons why forming a good routine will benefit your child.
After twenty-two months of parenting, I am glad I did one thing right – that was making sure that my daughter was on a fixed routine from the very beginning. Although as a new mom taking care of a baby was a bit overwhelming and scary at times and I was trying my best to follow the various baby books guidelines that I had read during pregnancy (for setting up a successful nap time, bath time, feeding the baby and a lot more). Most of them were good suggestions/ guidelines and few of those did work for me as well. Today, I am so glad that my daughter has developed a very good habit of following a schedule – be it waking up on time, sleep time, mealtime, or playtime. What does it mean for me and my husband?? A lot of peace and a calmer home :), but most importantly a happy and healthy kid!
Developing a routine for your kids and following it can be wonderful not only for the kids but also for the parents in many ways. It can help your child develop their body clocks and help create a peaceful environment at home. Below are my top 10 reasons of how following a fixed schedule/ routine for your kid can benefit them as well as parents.
Help your kid set up her or his body clock
When your child is on a fixed schedule they automatically know when it’s time to brush their teeth, dinner time, or go out to play. This pattern when practiced again and again will help them regulate their body clocks and they will be more open to accepting new changes as they already have a set pattern in place.
Sets your child expectations right
This is one of the best benefits for kids when following a routine. If a child is not ready and is made to try something new may be as simple as trying out a new vegetable, it can cause stress in your child’s mind and they can revolt against it. If they already have a set routine in place, they are aware of what’s about to come next and what to expect from it.
Offers security in your child’s mind during a stressful situation
If your family is going through a big change like a new kid arriving in the family or you are moving to a new place, these changes can be stressful for your child. Being able to associate with a fixed pattern (familiar good habit), practiced over a period of time before the new stressful situation, creates a lot of normalcy in your child’s mind and helps them feel more secured in these stressful situations.
Help your child develop good habits
When you help your kid practice routines like brushing their teeth, taking a bath, wearing clean clothes daily, these patterns can set your child up to practice and follow good habits in the future. It will help them learn the importance of personal and health hygiene.
Develops confidence and independence in your child’s mind
Knowing what’s coming ahead in their daily routines can help them develop a sense of independence and confidence to carry on their day by themselves. This consistency in their routine will bring security in their mind, which in return will boost their confidence.
Family bonding
Practicing good and healthy habits like brushing teeth in the morning and evening, eating salads during mealtime or going to the church or praying every weekend, can help a child connect and bond with the family. Following rituals and keeping consistency with the routine, can help a child understand what is important for the family and develop good values.
Parents are more relaxed
When the kid knows what to expect and is peaceful following the routines, the parents will definitely feel calmer and peace. Following a regular routine with the child, will mean that all the chores are taken care of like (making the bed, cleaning the room, taking a bath) and hence the parents can feel more relaxed.
Quality time with the family
Keeping up a good consistent routine can help kids as well as parents take care of what is important and live a chaos-free life and hence spend great quality time with the family to bond and enjoy special moments at home.
Child learns to take responsibility
One of the best ways to boost a child’s self-esteem is by developing a routine. Setting up chore times in the week like putting toys in the bin after playtime, leaving the towel in the laundry room after bath time, or helping with other small household chores can teach kids to take responsibility, feel more confident, and also teach them work ethics.
Calmer and peaceful home
When the child knows what to expect it will boost their confidence, which helps develop security, and hence the kid is more relaxed. Having a good set routine to practice with your kid will help them feel happy and relaxed and in turn, create a great positive environment at home.
Although having a routine for children is a good thing but it is also allrite to take a break and add some flexibility in your schedule sometimes. For example, if you are having dinner outside and there seems to be a chocolate given to your child, it’s allrite if once in a while you let them eat that during dinnertime. Or maybe breakfast can wait a bit on a weekend morning if your kid has spotted a rabbit in the backyard of your home, always happens with us 🙂
A change in a child’s life can be stressful but it is also an opportunity to learn something new and exciting. When it comes to parenting, it’s very important to strike a good balance between being strict, by following schedules and being flexible occasionally to have fun with kids.
You can print the below AM/PM printable and stick it in your kid’s room so that they have a visual of what's about to come in their routine and learn to practice it more.
Click here to get the free printable – AM & PM KID ROUTINE
You can also check out the below similar blog posts:
BENEFITS OF ‘PLAYTIME’ WITH KIDS
WHY WAKING UP BEFORE YOUR CHILD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
THREE MUST-HAVE HABITS FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE FROM AN EXPERIENCED PARENT
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