Routines are an essential part of every child’s daily life. Having a routine helps children feel safe, secure, and more comfortable with their surroundings. We are not aware of the benefits of routines, but they can have profound effects on a child’s development and future success. Children who have developed a routine that is both engaging and rich in sensory stimulation are more likely to remain at an optimal level of functioning throughout their lives.
Routines also offer many advantages for parents and caregivers. They help provide structure and predictability to a child’s day, giving parents time to focus on other aspects of their job as caretakers. Instilling this as early as possible will help set the tone for how a child will react to various situations throughout their lives. Let’s take a deeper look into the importance of routines to help parents and caregivers develop one that best fits a child’s needs.
Why Are Routines Important for Children?
When we look at a child’s development, it is important to understand that they can develop routines from an early age. Some children begin to establish practices before they enter school. In fact, many of the best things you can do for your child to help them develop a positive and meaningful habit are things you can do at home. Children benefit significantly from their routines, which will teach them different ways to interact with family and friends. These are a few of the many things routines will provide them with:
1. A sense of stability
This is one of the most significant aspects for a child to develop. Your child will understand that their routine will remain the same and that they can expect things always to remain predictable. Therefore, it gives them a sense of security and constancy. This is why they are so important because they help children through times when changes happen unexpectedly and they do not know how to handle them.
2. Enhanced self-regulation
We all know that toddlers do not have the best control of emotions. Therefore, routines give them a sense of organization and order which will help them develop self-control. This lets kids know what to expect, and they tell them that they have control over their emotions. This will help them learn how to deal with stressful situations and overcome challenges without becoming extremely distressed.
3. Establish relationships and connections
Routines become a way for children to find their identity, letting them know more about who they are and how they want to be in the world. They provide a sense that they are their person, creating lasting relationships with people they love.
4. Learn various sets of skills
There are many ways to make a routine, and it can help a child in so many different ways. While they may not be aware of all the elements at an early age, they will learn various skills over the years as they develop their routine. They will learn how to take care of themselves and their belongings by regularly organizing and cleaning their rooms. They may also develop skills such as socializing in-game playing or having conversations with others.
5. Achieving a certain level of independence
As kids grow older, they will become more independent and want to independently follow through with the basic tasks associated with their routine. For example, once you get your child into the habit of cleaning his room on a weekly basis, he may begin doing it by himself and asking for your help less and less. Children’s confidence will grow as he begins to complete tasks by themselves.
The Role of Routines in Montessori Education
The Montessori method is a unique system of education that is highly beneficial for the child’s development. Montessori intends to nurture critical thinking skills in the child, helping them learn how to learn independently. Their “constant activities” or routines help them do this.
Montessori’s routines are highly engaging, allowing children to express their creativity to develop a sense of independence and identity. They also enable children some freedom to explore various aspects of life while still being given structure and organization.
Breaking it down into three key components, we have:
- Active learning of their senses,
- Development of motor skills
- Proprietary appreciation of the world
By breaking down the tasks into these three components, you can better understand how routines help children learn. These routines help children develop various skills that are fundamental to life, but they also help them psychologically.
ACTIVE LEARNING OF THE SENSES
Kids will be given many opportunities to explore the world around them using their five senses. Different textures and materials let kids explore their surroundings. These include things such as:
- sand
- water
- clay
- paint
- chalk, etc.
These are all experiences they may not have gotten in ordinary schools before and will therefore promote an active way of learning.
DEVELOPMENT OF MOTOR SKILLS
This is done within the child’s own little classroom space and includes various activities stimulating different skills.
These activities include:
- dancing
- tracing the gestures of others in pencil or chalk
- drawing & cutting
- pounding symbols
- cheerleading, etc.
The idea is to encourage a child’s imagination, providing them with a sense of freedom to develop their insights and motor skills at their own pace. This will help them learn through observation, as they will see what they are doing and how it affects others around them.
PROPRIETARY APPRECIATION OF THE WORLD
Montessori principals believe that it is essential for a child to understand who they are, where they come from, and their purpose in life. The child will be encouraged to ask questions, explore their environment, and experience the world around them. They will be encouraged to express their ideas, whether it is through words or actions.
The Montessori approach involves the kid in everything around them to help them understand how the world works and why they are a part of it. This will help them feel more included in the community and society, beneficial later.
Which Home Routines Should You Include?
Nonetheless, you must establish the most appropriate routines for your family. Here are some instances of everyday domestic life with significant consequences.
1. Morning Routine
Instilling routine waking up time for your little ones is the most important thing to do for the rest of their day. This is to be done right after the kids get up from sleep. They need to be given time for themselves to take a shower and brush their teeth before you start checking on them. For that reason, it is also essential that you establish a constant wake-up time for them.
They should also know what to do ahead of time. You must not simply allow them free will on how they want to prepare themselves and go out of their room when they are ready.
2. Bedtime Routine
Although they can be considered a new routine, they need to have their bedtime routine. It should last just enough time to get children ready for bed and help them fall asleep. However, if it takes too long than usual, they won’t be able to fall asleep. So you must never set your kids up for failure by giving them a more extended bedtime than necessary.
3. A Nutrition Routine
It’s essential to have a good nutrition routine for your kids. You should know the importance of nutritional foods, especially for your kids since they are growing so fast. When it comes to food, you must also set a good example of eating healthy. Set your kids up a salad or a good healthy meal for dinner to learn the importance of healthy food for themselves. It’s also vital to have a healthy breakfast routine for them to learn to eat properly in the morning.
4. Household Routine
In establishing a proper routine in your household, it is crucial to know what chores are and need to be done every day. In setting up a daily household routine, you will be giving them direction on how they can help run the household. In this way, they understand their duties and responsibilities and how to do things correctly. This can benefit them when they grow up and have their household.
5. A Social Routine
Preparing a proper social routine for your kids is also very helpful to their education. It will give them the guidance and assistance they need to be on top of society. You must know that every little girl or boy requires a good school schedule. They may be left to their own devices, but they need help remembering their strategy, so they know what to do on a regular basis. It also gives them a sense of belonging as every child is part of their class in the school system.
Four Steps in Creating a New Routine
Creating a new routine is not hard. A simple four-step process will do the trick. The key is to predict how your child will react to the new practice and then try to make them accept it as part of their everyday life.
1. Establish a regimen that you can stick to.
Start by setting a new routine that you can stick with for a month. Start with the most basic things, like eating and getting dressed in the morning. Then, think about what you can change to be more age-appropriate, like bedtime or how much screen time your child gets.
2. Establish a success-oriented environment.
To teach a child to be successful, you should give them a clear picture of where they are going and how to get there. This will help them adjust more easily to the new schedule. Try to set up a daily routine beginning at home, then at school, and then with your family.
3. Follow each step of the routine one at a time.
Since your little one will be new to all of this, you must stick with the routine for at least two weeks. Try to do each part every day, like reading or feeding the dog.
4. Give your child a chance to adapt and create positive habits.
Remember that your new routine can be a little confusing for your child at first. Give them time to adjust to the change and take it one day at a time. Do not anticipate that they will already have everything ready when you first interact with them. Also, you should expect one to two adjustments in the transition.
Final Thought
When implementing daily routines in your home, you must always remember that it is all about being consistent with what you teach your children. Need aid in accomplishing this? Montessori Academy can help!
Montessori Academy is a comprehensive, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that provides students with the skills to be productive members of society. With a holistic approach focused on developing the whole child. Montessori teachers use various educational methods to help each kid reach their full potential.
We also provide families with high-quality, Montessori-certified programs that have been proven effective in helping children master core academic content through hands-on activities and good old-fashioned parental involvement.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us today! To learn more about Montessori Academy and the academic, social, physical, and emotional milestones your child will achieve in their programs.
