Chances are, it has been almost six months since you or your children have experienced a “normal” daily routine. The comforting monotony of our daily rhythm, as we knew it, is a thing of the past. But despite the lack of structure brought on by the drastic changes we’ve all gone through, we can begin to bring some structure and routine back into our children's lives. Research has overwhelmingly shown kids and grownups benefit from routines. With that in mind, here are some tips and strategies for establishing new rhythms to your days.
Involve kids in establishing their own routines
At Smarten Up, we are big fans of building independence, metacognition, confidence, and all the other life skills that can help kids grow into successful, well-rounded adults. Including your children in the conversation about what their new routine will look like could be the difference between whether or not it sticks. This doesn't mean letting them choose when they go to bed, or whether they’ll do their homework before or after watching TV. It does mean giving them some say in areas that do have flexibility. For example, let them choose the order in which they perform all of their morning tasks before they head to school, or to their desk if they are learning remotely. For some kids, just being given the freedom to decide whether they will get dressed or eat breakfast first is enough to make a routine stick. The key is in making sure that the new schedule becomes routine, which is a matter of practice, practice, practice!
Make it visual
Once your children have a routine that you are both happy with, make sure to write it down! It’s best if you let your kids take over this part with as much independence as possible. They can decorate the paper with colors and pictures, write it in a fancy font, cover it with glitter – whatever works to make the schedule something your kids are excited about! Then, hang it on the wall in their bedroom, or in another place where their eyes are likely to catch it often, as this will help promote consistency as the new routine becomes habit.
Shake things up
Because it has likely been quite some time since your kids have followed a strict routine, make sure the new schedule is different enough from the old one that it feels like a fresh start. Of course, breakfast will still happen in the morning and they will still need to brush their teeth before bed, but change some of the details so that it feels a little different from before. Maybe it might be sitting at a new spot at the dinner table, or changing the layout of furniture in a room. It’s just important to make some sort of small changes to reinforce that this is a new beginning with a better plan for success.
Be patient
No matter how excited your children may (or may not) appear to be to establish a new routine, two things are guaranteed: they will benefit from it tremendously, and they will resist it at one point or another. This resistance is normal, and you must persevere in spite of it. Keep reminding your children of their routine. If there's a day where things get a bit wonky, tomorrow is always a new day and a fresh opportunity to stick to the plan you created. It will not happen right away. It takes time to establish a routine, but be consistent! Your child will thank you in the long run.