Why routines matter

It’s just routine…

Supernanny fans will know how important routine is as far as Jo Frost is concerned, and most childcare experts agree that kids feel more secure if they know that things happen in a certain order and at set times. When Supernanny visited the Citarellas, she felt mom Debbie was underestimating just how vital a proper routine is, so she set about showing Debbie how getting her four children into one – whether for mealtime, bathtime or bedtime – would also help her cope with the stresses of parenting by making childcare easier and giving her some time to herself.

Your routine: making the most of time with your child

Your child’s routine is your routine too and while it needs to factor in her daily needs it also needs to balance in with what you have to do on a day-to-day basis, whether you go out to work, work at home or are a stay-at-home mom. Plus, it has to consider your need to spend quality time with your child and her need to know she’s loved even if she doesn’t get constant attention.

If you work outside the home and your child goes to daycare, mornings can mean mayhem – and even if you’re a stay-at-home mom mornings can be a challenge if you have to get your child up and ready for school. The evenings too can be chaotic if you get in late and have to get your child fed and bathed to make her usual bedtime. It’s all too easy in these circumstances to end up in a situation where you spend little quality time with your child, especially when you have to fit all the chores into your weekends. The answer is to incorporate your child into your morning, evening and weekend routine…

Consistency is key – once the routine is established it will run smoothly and your child will do everything that she needs to automatically

Mornings…

• Set your alarm clock 15 minutes early so you can bring your child into bed with you for an early morning cuddle. At weekends, have breakfast in bed together.
• Get breakfast ready the night before Have cereal all ready to go in a covered bowl, or oatmeal all made up to be reheated in the microwave.
• Lay out clothes the night before or bundle complete outfits for every day of the week at the weekend and keep them handy in a hanging closet organizer.
• Prepare packed lunches the night before and spend 20 minutes or so at the weekend putting fruit into separate snack bags to speed up the process during the week.

Mealtimes…

• Have a set meal for every day of the week to take last-minute stress out of shopping and cooking.
• Include your older child in the routine by getting her to help prepare a meal – she can butter bread, shred lettuce for a side salad or get drinks ready. It’s a great opportunity to talk about her day.
• With a younger child, have special toy she only gets to play with when you’re preparing the meal.

Bedtime…

• Lead up to bedtime with a consistent series of events – bath, warm milk, story, cuddle.
• Take a bath with your child if you’ve been apart from her all day – it’ll give you bonding time with her and means you won’t have to try to squeeze in a shower later in the evening.
  

Your child’s routine: the comfort of the same old same old

Organizing your child’s day into a series of routines will help you both get much more out of your time, and your child will be happier if she can predict what’s coming next in her day. Her early years are a mix of new sensations and experiences that can often be overwhelming – knowing what’s coming up can help her feel more in control.

Mornings…

• An older child can lay out her clothes for the next day.
• Get her to check her backpack and make sure it’s packed with anything she might need at daycare or school.
• If she’s old enough, part of her routine can include making sure that her coat and hat are hung where they should be and that her shoes are ready by the door.
• Follow the same routine every morning She gets up, goes to the bathroom, washes her hands and face and so on.

Mealtimes…

• Involve your child in meal planning and laying the table.
• Eat together and encourage her in mealtime etiquette.
• Helping you tidy up afterwards can also form part of the routine.

Evenings…

• Get your child into the habit of tidying away her toys After all it will save you having to bend down! Knowing that she’s helping you will boost her self-esteem.
• Praise her as she gets involved in these routine chores – have a special song you sing as you tidy up, to make the routine more enjoyable; or use an egg timer and turn the clean-up into a fun race against the clock.

Bedtimes…

• Ease the transition from activity to sleeptime with quiet time (no TV or computer games!) that creates a relaxed atmosphere and helps your child to wind down.
• A warm bath is a tradition with every bedtime routine, and familiar comfy pyjamas will signal that the bedtime routine is well underway.
• She can drink her milk while you read to her – snuggle up together in the same spot every night.
• With an older child, it’s nice to chat about what she did that day.

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