09/18/2026
Now that the school year is underway, our classrooms prioritize orienting children to the predictable routine of the day. This greatly supports children's social emotional development as they form new relationships outside of the family.
Routines are important at home too! Not only can routines help the flow of time spent at home, they also help children to build their own self-regulation skills.
This article from Zero to Thrive explains how "children benefit from relationships and environments that are predictable to them: this includes important caregivers who behave in predictable ways, and events that occur at predictable times."
As we settle into the routine of school, take some time to examine the routines that you have at home (bedtime, meal times, mornings etc.). Are there any places that still feel sticky or rushed? That your child struggles to navigate independently? Perhaps a slight adjustment to the routine or our adult expectations will benefit your household.
When we can intentionally take time to plan out our routines, it helps us (the adults) be clear about what needs to happen and when. It allows us to meet our child within the routine, and provide patience and calm as they (our child) learn to feel safe and secure with it (and with us).
This takes time, daily reenforcement, patience, and grace! For our child, and for ourselves as caregivers!
https://zerotothrive.org/routines-for-kids/
The Importance of Routines for KidsDOWNLOAD AS AN INFOGRAPHICInformation developed by Dr. Erika Bocknek, Educational Psychology, Wayne State University This […]
