When there is a swirl of activities in the day to day life, it is the routines which bring order and predictability and thus a sense of balance in both our children and ourselves. These daily rhythms accomplish more than time management in children, they create an important structure of development and learning. This article discusses the influence of routines in the development of a child giving insightful ideas and tips to parents and caregivers.
What Are Routines and What Are Their Role in Early Childhood?
In the case of raising children, routines entail a set of actions which are constantly followed at a specific time or in a specific order. They create a pattern of consistency in the day of a child and makes them familiar with what they should expect and at what time.
Routines Vs. Schedules
- Routines involve the order of activities (i.e. brushing teeth first, then a story, then bed), instead of paying attention to the timing. A lot of practice in forming habits and independence is available by their help.
- Schedules are time centered and more organized where children do things at a particular period (e.g., lunch at noon, naptime at 1 pm). Although they are quite clear, they lack flexibility of when some children require different needs.
Unlike a strict daily routine, routines in early childhood are not strict. They align themselves to the needs of individual children and yet they have a pattern that is consistent. This combination of foreseeable but flexible is important to a child in building a sense of continuity and security.
The Science of repetitive patterns and Development of the child
Developmental psychology theories such as the stages of psychosocial development by Erik Erikson are focused on the need of predictable routines. Research conducted by the top journals proves that regular practice promotes different aspects of development considerably.
Motivational and Emotional/Psychological Value
Routines are sources of emotional-stability to children. They make people feel safe and certain and it can considerably diminish anxiety and stress. A routine gives the children more security in letting them know what is ahead.
Instilling a perception of security and safety
- Stable Environment: Routines make an environment stable, which is very comforting especially to young children. An example is the establishment of a good bedtime routine which makes a child feel safer in bed.
Improving Anxiety and Stress
- Knowing What to Anticipate: The more children understand what is going to happen next, the less they are anxious about any daily shifts including ones between play time and eating.
- Responding to Change: Routines help children respond to times of change, stress and transition (starting a new school, acquiring a new sibling).
- Emotional Regulation: Scheduled programs will enable children to know how to handle their emotions and eliminate tantrums or meltdowns in a better way.Psychology and Linguistics
Routines promote cognitive development and language. Routines also help in the development of memory and learning because the repetition and predictability help with remembering and recalling. This can be done through bedtime story where the language skills can be strengthened and the opportunities of language acquisition enriched.
Acquiring a language and cognitive development
- Bedtime Stories: By making a habit of reading bed time stories a child can greatly improve its vocabulary and understanding level.
- Mealtimes Communication: Communication at meals provides the children with time to learn new words and to express themselves.
- Interactive Play: Games and activities that children have to follow instructions can develop cognition skills and language comprehension.
The Function of Repeating and Predictability During Learning
- Memory Development: By having children sing songs repetitively or recite nursery rhymes, memory will be at development and recall.
- Mastering New Ideas: Daily routine sequences are predictable and can help children learn simple concepts, such as what comes first, time management and sequence (e.g., we eat breakfast first, then we brush our teeth).
- Developing a curiosity: A defined routine acts as a security blanket to the children, with confidence to explore and ask questions which is essential in cognitive development.
Social skill and behaviour
Children learn the social norms and expectations through routine. The sharing of tasks during clean~up time or turn taking during games are some of the regular interactions reaffirming the social skills and norm of behaviour. Routine behavior also assists in building self-control as well as cooperative behavior.
Acquisition of Social Norms And Expectations
- Sharing and Turn-taking: Simple games like engaging in sharing of toys in the play-time or taking turns during the time of cleaning up teaches the kid great social skills.
- Appreciation of Boundaries: Rough schedules will teach the children the concept of recognizing and keeping boundaries, personal and social.
- Watching Social Interaction: Children are introduced to social conduct and behavior during family activities, such as a get together or outing.
Learning of self-control and cooperation
- Routine Rule Abidance: abidance in the rules such as patience when waiting to take meals teaches self-control.
- Cooperation Play: A part of routine includes performing group activities and cooperation which teaches children cooperation and teamwork.
- Problem-Solving: Skills to be acquired: Coping with small conflicts in the casual activities will improve the problem solving and negotiation skills in a child.
Independence, Self-Esteem
Proper compliance to routine instills confidence in the children as well as the feeling of being in control and instils better self-esteem in them. Learning basic things like having their lunch box and having a morning routine builds foundation of an independence and future goals.
Increasing Independence and Self-Assurance
- Excelling daily: It is crucial that a child becomes independent by accomplishing daily tasks, such as dressing themselves, packing lunchbox, etc.
- Decision Making: Allowing a kid to involve in making decisions within the routine, such as by giving clothes and bedtime story selection, expands the scope of decision-making.
- Responsibility: Responsibility is developed by giving your child age-appropriate tasks to perform during routines, e.g., feeding a pet.
Increased long-term performance benefits Oversight costs are high Independence is synonymous with stability
- Increased Self-Reliance: At an early stage, kids are able to master routine thus becoming more independent and confident in solving new problems.
- Setting goals: Learning to do a routine will give the kid an idea of the principles of working towards goals whether short-term (completing a puzzle) or long-term (learning a new skill).
- Development of Self-Image/Self-Esteem: as children learn the various tasks in their routines, they begin to develop a positive self-image and their self-esteem raises effectively helping them in their further development.
Handy Hints to Parents
- Start Easy and Fun: Start with simple, and enjoyable activities such as routine sleep times, or morning routines to keep donot make the activity squeezed.
- Using Aids and Cues: Provide visual aids, such as healthy eating charts, toys, clocks that will help make the routines easier to understand and follow by children, helping them understand and cooperate with them.
- Transition times: incorporate transition times so that the children can have an easy time shifting gears either through visual or auditory cues, which provide a signal of transition during the shift times.
- Positive reinforcement: provide your child with praises and encouragement when he/she manages to do the routine well and this will make your child feel good and this can motivate him/her to continue performing.
- Routine and Consistency is the most important: Once the routine is established make sure you set a standard time so the child knows their daily routine which helps bring stability and security.
Overcoming General Problems
Raising children can be at times be difficult and setting and sticking to routines are no exception. In this section, we look at possible barriers and provide effective alternatives in order to assure that your routines are maintained:
1. Aversion to Routines
- There are challenges of the children because they can object to routines, and this can be when they are boring to the child or even when they feel that the routines are repressive.
- Solution: Make routine activities more interesting by introducing fun in them. Instead, turn anything which could otherwise seem like a bore like clean-up time into a contest or a race against the clock using a timer and igniting the element of urgency.
2. Breaks and interruptions
- Risk: Exterior disruptions such as calls or visitors may disrupt patterns.
- It is not possible to anticipate all advances, but it is possible to have a pattern of handling break ins. Teach the child how to interrupt what he or she has begun doing and continue later.
3. Power Struggles
- Challenge: Power struggles may occur when it is time that children desire to exercise their independence and challenge what is expected of them on a daily bases.
- Solution: Provide alternatives in the routine so that your child may have a feeling of flexibility around it. Such as, write their decisions about their pyjamas, or what book to read at bedtime. This can minimise power struggles and foster cooperation.
4. Combating Meltdowns
- Challenge: Young children will meltdown when something is different which is not part of the usual routine, when they are hungry or when they are tired.
- Solution: Be sensitive and tolerant in times of meltdowns. Calm your child and make them get themselves together. Then, talk about the significance of routines and how routines may prevent such situations upcoming.
Empower Your Childs Future by Routines: Let Us Start the Journey!
As a caring centre, we ensure that various principles surrounding holistic development are achieved in our day-to-day tasks, without ignoring the importance routines can play in fostering holistic child development. Routines, whether in classrooms or in families, are not merely time-keeping but diversion toward a wholesome, well adjusted child.
We encourage parents to contact Okinja to get to know more and feel how our routine can be helpful to children of preschool age. Come visit and witness how we use these habits that shape life in our daycare/childcare.
Contact us now at admin@okinjaelc.com.au!