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Routines or Schedules: What Works Best for Your Household?

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, finding a balance between routines and schedules can be a game-changer for families.

Both routines and schedules play crucial roles in creating a stable and nurturing environment for children, but they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits. Understanding the distinction between the two and how to implement them effectively can help your family thrive.

What Are Routines?

Routines are the regular, predictable activities that happen every day. They are the backbone of daily life, providing a sense of security and stability. Routines are less about specific times and more about the sequence of activities. For example, a bedtime routine might include brushing teeth, reading a story, and then lights out. The focus is on the order of events rather than the exact time they occur.

Benefits of Routines:

1. Security and Stability:

Routines provide a sense of predictability, which can be comforting for children. Knowing what comes next helps reduce anxiety and creates a sense of security.

2. Independence:

When children know what to expect, they can start to take responsibility for their own actions. For instance, a child who knows the bedtime routine can begin to brush their teeth and get ready for bed without constant reminders.

3. Skill Development:

Routines help children develop important life skills. For example, a morning routine that includes making the bed and getting dressed teaches responsibility and self-care.

4. Family Bonding:

Routines can create special moments for family bonding. A consistent bedtime story or a family dinner can become cherished traditions that strengthen family ties.

What Are Schedules?

Schedules, on the other hand, are more about timing. They involve planning specific activities at specific times. A schedule might include waking up at 7:00 AM, breakfast at 7:30 AM, and school drop-off at 8:00 AM. Schedules are particularly useful for managing busy days and ensuring that all necessary activities are completed.

Benefits of Schedules:

1. Time Management:

Schedules help families manage their time effectively. By allocating specific times for activities, you can ensure that everything gets done without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

2. Consistency:

Schedules provide a consistent framework for the day. This consistency can be especially important for children who thrive on routine and predictability.

3. Productivity:

Having a schedule can increase productivity by reducing downtime and ensuring that important tasks are prioritized.

4. Flexibility:

While schedules provide structure, they can also be adjusted as needed. If an unexpected event occurs, you can rearrange the schedule to accommodate it.

Finding the Balance

While both routines and schedules offer valuable benefits, finding the right balance between the two is key. Here are some tips to help you strike that balance:

1. Start with Routines:

Begin by establishing strong routines for key parts of the day, such as morning, bedtime, and mealtimes. These routines will provide a stable foundation for your family’s daily life.

2. Introduce Schedules Gradually:

Once your routines are in place, start to introduce schedules for specific activities. For example, you might schedule homework time, extracurricular activities, and family outings.

3. Be Flexible:

Life is unpredictable, and it’s important to be flexible with both routines and schedules. If something unexpected comes up, don’t be afraid to adjust your plans. Flexibility is key to maintaining a healthy balance.

4. Involve Your Children:

Include your children in the process of creating routines and schedules. This involvement can help them feel more invested and responsible for following the plan.

5. Monitor and Adjust:

Regularly review your routines and schedules to see what’s working and what isn’t. Be open to making changes as needed to better meet your family’s needs.

Practical Examples

Morning Routine:

– Wake up
– Brush teeth
– Get dressed
– Eat breakfast
– Pack school bag

Morning Schedule:

– 7:00 AM: Wake up
– 7:15 AM: Brush teeth and get dressed
– 7:30 AM: Eat breakfast
– 7:45 AM: Pack school bag
– 8:00 AM: Leave for school

Bedtime Routine:

– Take a bath
– Put on pajamas
– Read a story
– Lights out

Bedtime Schedule:

– 7:00 PM: Take a bath
– 7:15 PM: Put on pajamas
– 7:30 PM: Read a story
– 8:00 PM: Lights out

Conclusion

Routines and schedules are both essential tools for creating a stable and nurturing environment for your family. Routines provide the security and predictability that children need, while schedules help manage time and ensure that important tasks are completed. By finding the right balance between the two, you can create a harmonious and productive daily life for your family. Remember to be flexible, involve your children in the process, and regularly review and adjust your plans to meet your family’s evolving needs. With the right approach, routines and schedules can help your family soar.

Back to School: Safe Place to Land

by Brenda McSween | Parenting

Back-to-school season is upon us. Some children are already back to school and some are preparing for this adventure to begin! This can be a huge adjustment for our precious little ones. Often our little, and not-so-little, ones do not have the words to express their worries, questions, fears or excitement. This is where the safe place to let things out comes in.

How can you help if they do not tell you what they need?

Let’s put this in perspective. You have just started a new job. Imagine all the emotions you go through. It is hard for you to pinpoint what exactly is causing you angst but you can at least state “I am nervous”. Then you start to verbally unload on a friend or family member. After that conversation, you feel so much better.

Children are famous for acting out their feelings as opposed to talking. The first weeks back to school, I would recommend that you are prepared for many different emotional outbursts to happen. Know that these emotional responses are your child’s way of dealing with the changes. They have absolutely nothing to do with you!

Your child may seem absolutely fine when they get home, then all of a sudden they are freaking out because their sibling touched them him or the couch is not comfortable or ……(you get the point). Just know that this is to be expected. Being the safe place for your child to unload emotionally will benefit them in the long run.

Does this mean that you can’t explain that the outbursts are not acceptable??

No. It means that you can help your child learn that they are reacting to things instead of dealing with their emotions from the day. It is the whole concept of being “proactive instead of reactive”.

One of the most helpful things that I have found is to ask the question “I am wondering if…”. I will often state “I am wondering if you are tired or hungry”. Also, labeling what you see is important. “Man I am noticing that when you get home from school you get angry”.

How can you help your child cope with all this emotion?

If your child is one that loves hugs, meet them with open arms!
Have a snack prepared so your child does not get “hangry”.
Plan a low-key evening for the first few weeks.
Put your phone or other electronics away and give your child your attention.
Engage in some fun play or roughhousing. Laughter can be just as therapeutic as crying.
Let your child guide his play with you for about 10 to 15 minutes. Child Directed play rocks!

I encourage you to be your child’s safe place to land at the end of the day! Slowly over time, you will see a major reduction in your child’s emotional reactions. This will be your cue that your child is beginning to adjust to the new grade. If the behaviour does not change then I would recommend reaching out for additional supports.

Let Them Get Messy!!!

by Brenda McSween | Parenting, Toddlers and Preschoolers

A scene that I see being played out over and over again is when little ones are exploring or eating with a parent right on top of the child cleaning up after them. It drives me bonkers sometimes!

I get that there are people that are really fearful of germs; however, this creates little people that do not want to get dirty.

Case and point…

I love my husband but when our little man was a toddler I had to do a mini-intervention.

My husband does not like a mess. Well, this does not bode well with a toddler. Our little man would get distressed and run to wash his hands if he was dirty. It was becoming an issue. I did not want a little person that was afraid to explore or eat something due to becoming dirty. He was literally suctioned up after most meals with a “Dust Buster”.

After the mini-intervention (and after being kicked by me under the table a few times), our little man will power through his meal and will try touching different things (he does not like all textures but that is information for a future post regarding sensory related issues) while exploring.

When our little ones are able to explore their environments they learn so much!! If I see a little one that is “dirty” on the playground from jumping around and climbing I have to stop myself from going over and high fiving that parent!

If you are concerned about your child getting sick or hurt, it is important that you also look at the other side. Children that are not free to explore their environment can have increased fears and their physical development can be delayed.

Ways to be Prepared for a Mess while out…

1. Have a change of clothes with you

I made a habit of having a change of clothes in my backpack, diaper bag or my purse. I also had an extra couple of outfits in the vehicle for those last minute adventures

2. Have a few wet wipes or a cloth in a bag for those moments

Never hurts to be prepared to clean up a mess. Baby wipes have many purposes. I still have a package around for those moments 🙂

3. Join in and explore

By doing this you can teach your child how to explore in a safe manner if you are concerned. This also allows your child to see that it is okay because mommy or daddy is doing it too!

4. Carry a Plastic Bag

This has saved me a few times. Soiled clothes have a place to go without causing an issue.

Children learn so much when they are given the opportunity to explore. I am not sure about you, but man I had a blast as a child when I was free to jump in the puddles, make mud pies and roll down the hill.

I am challenging you to let your little one get messy. They will learn how to clean up after themselves and they will have so much fun doing it!

If you are looking for more information about the benefits of exploring the outdoors, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of “Balanced and Barefoot” by Angela Hanscom. Following is an affiliate link for the book.

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Have fun letting your little one get messy!!

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Back to School Sleep Tip

by Brenda McSween | Parenting, Parenting Tools, School Age, Toddlers and Preschoolers

It is that time of the year where our little ones are preparing to go to school or go back to school. The first thing I get a number of questions about is how to get your child prepared to get the amount of sleep he needs each night.

When summer hits we often fall off our routines. This is pretty common and honestly, it is to be expected. If you child is going to bed later and waking up later than he needs for school you can help him get back on track.

Where do you start?

The first thing that I recommend that you do is to figure out what time your child needs to be going to bed to get the recommended amount of sleep that he needs.

Here is a link that can help you figure out how much sleep your child needs Recommended Hours of Sleep. Keep in mind your child may need more or less sleep than a child that is the same age as your child. So trust your gut instincts on the exact amount of sleep that is best for your child.

Keep in mind your child may need more or less sleep than a child that is the same age as your child. So trust your gut instincts on the exact amount of sleep that is best for your child.

Now What?

Now you know how much time your child should be sleeping so the next thing to look at is what time does your child have to be awake to get where they need to be in a timely fashion without you having to rush them out the door (stay tuned for a post about how to get them out the door with your patience and hair intact).

Let us say for example you need to be out the door by 8:00 am so you decide that 7:00 am is a good time for your child to get up.

Currently, your child is getting up around 9:00 am. There are 2 ways you can approach this change:

Cold Turkey:

The weekend before school you can just cold turkey wake your child up at 7:00 am and start your day. I do recommend giving him a few days to adjust before going to school which is why I recommend starting on the weekend. Then have bedtime at the time you figure he needs to be able to get proper rest.

Gradually:

Right about now you can start waking your child up 15 minutes before he usually wakes up. Bedtime will be 15 minutes before he usually goes to sleep. Then every 3 to 4 days, change wake-up and bedtime by 15 minutes. Continue this approach until you reach the desired times.

Be prepared for some protest from your child. Reminding your child that you are doing this to help him get ready for school can have a positive effect on the push back you may receive.

Have fun preparing for back to school!