{"id":2443,"date":"2023-10-09T06:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T13:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/?p=2443"},"modified":"2023-08-23T11:41:12","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T18:41:12","slug":"why-routines-are-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/why-routines-are-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Routines Help Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your mornings are a hectic blur of trying to get resistant kids out the door on time, right? Then, you end up each day exhausted from trying to get them to go to back bed. Yup, I get it. I\u2019ve been there. Routines will help your kids.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org\/ncal\/providers\/micheleevans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Michele Evans<\/a>, a\u00a0pediatrician colleague and expert in child abuse, recommends parents use \u201crhythm, regularity, and routine\u201d to help their kids behave well and make your days go more smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>If children know what to expect, they\u2019ll feel more secure and less likely to act out. Sticking to routines can make every day easier!<\/p>\n<p>But how do you get to this blissful ideal? Here are some tips.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Create routines together with your kids.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Start with one difficult time of the day \u2013 like bedtime \u2013 and ask your child to help you. \u201cWhat are the things we need to do each night to get ready for bed?\u201d Then make a list together: take a bath, put on PJs, brush teeth, use the potty, read 2 books, kiss goodnight, and lights off.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Decide together what needs to be done by letting your child have some say<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a tracking chart together: Let them decorate it and help decide where to post it.<\/li>\n<li>Ask questions and let your child tell you the steps of a routine, instead of you telling them. For instance, if they want to put shoes on in the morning before they brush teeth, try it. This will help them cooperate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Break a routine into smaller steps and ask them to remind you what\u2019s next.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Instead of saying, \u201cGet ready for bed,\u201d say, \u201cIt\u2019s time for bed, what do we need to do?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Post pictures of the various steps as a reminder.<\/li>\n<li>Check off the steps on their chart.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Practice the routine together, when you\u2019re not rushing. <\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Do a few items at a time, and gradually work up to doing the whole routine.<\/li>\n<li>Appreciate your child\u2019s efforts and praise their work.<\/li>\n<li>Ask for their help sticking with the routine going forward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Set a good example and hold kids accountable to routines.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Here\u2019s some ways to do that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Say, \u201cI noticed you haven\u2019t put your shoes on. Please do that now.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Ask: \u201cWhat did we agree to about brushing teeth?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t lecture, nag, or do it for them. Just wait, right in front of them, until they do what they agreed to do.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Prepare them for changes in the routine.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you know a routine will be disturbed, discuss that ahead of time. Knowing what to expect makes kids feel safe and calm \u2013 unexpected changes can really throw off some kids.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Plan to check in and see if the routine needs adjustments<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask your child what steps they think are working.<\/li>\n<li>Share your ideas on changes that might make things smoother.<\/li>\n<li>Offer appreciation and encouragement to continue the teamwork.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All these ideas can work even with older kids, too. For instance, they can have routines for doing homework: <a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/getting-kids-to-talk-after-school-beyond-how-was-your-day-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coming home from school<\/a>, having a snack, playing at the park for an hour, or relaxing in their room.<\/p>\n<p>With teens, when the routine isn\u2019t going well (such as they\u2019re repeatedly late leaving the house for school), <a href=\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/surviving-the-teenage-years-keep-talking-and-7-more-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">checking in with them<\/a> to ask what they might need to change can help get things back on track. \u201cI\u2019ve noticed you\u2019ve been having trouble getting off to school on time recently \u2013 what do you think might help?\u201d You\u2019ll need to be willing, curious, and listen to their ideas \u2013 collaboration and respect works.<\/p>\n<h2>Children thrive when they have routines!<\/h2>\n<p>They feel calmer, safer, and are less likely to misbehave when their days stick to a familiar routine. This advice won\u2019t solve everything, but it\u2019ll go a long way to getting kids out the door or into bed on time \u2013 and without driving you crazy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your mornings are a hectic blur of trying to get resistant kids out the door on time, right? Then, you end up each day exhausted from trying to get them to go to back bed. Here&#8217;s some ideas to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2451,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[454,60],"tags":[430,238,432,476,431,353,547],"class_list":["post-2443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behavior","category-family-life","tag-child-behavior","tag-child-discipline","tag-getting-ready-for-bed","tag-kids-and-sleep","tag-morning-routine","tag-morning-routines-for-kids","tag-school","ages-preschool","ages-toddler"],"metadata":{"_edit_lock":["1692816125:8"],"_edit_last":["8"],"slide_template":["default"],"video_format_choose":["youtube"],"_custom_body_class":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["90"],"qode_animate-page-title":["no"],"qode_show-page-title-text":["no"],"qode_show-page-title-image":["no"],"qode_show-sidebar":["default"],"qode_hide-featured-image":["no"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["454"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_ages":["289"],"_thumbnail_id":["2451"],"wpfp_favorites":["7"],"qode_seo_title":["Get kids to help set morning and evening routines"],"qode_seo_keywords":["morning routine, evening routine with kids, getting ready for bed, "],"qode_seo_description":["Getting kids to help set evening and morning routines"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":["routines"],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":["routines help kids"],"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":["71"],"_yoast_indexnow_last_ping":["1696856908"],"ase_chapter_enable_timeline":["off"],"_wpb_vc_js_status":["false"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["If children know what to expect, they\u2019ll feel more secure and less likely to act out. 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