The Routines Every Child Needs

How often have we started to hear the concept of “routine”. Routines, habits, etc… So what is routine? Why is it so important for children. Why should it be ? And what if it’s not… there are a lot of questions in your head, I know.
In fact, if you look at it, we can define the concept of routine as any kind of behavior that has become a habit. Brushing our teeth after every meal, taking a shower every evening before going to bed. Each of these are actually things that we do at home, consciously or not. But the basic thing is that this whole process is systematic and planned.

You ask why ?
Routines make life easier for both you as a parent and your children. Imagine what would happen if your child sleeps, eats or wants to play games whenever he wants ?
– The answer is very simple ! A child who has a crying fit and a mother who doesn’t know what to do. In short, an environment of complete chaos…
Well, let’s think about the opposite of this now. What would happen if you made your child take a bath, brush his teeth, put on his pajamas and read some books and put him to sleep every evening respectively?
– The answer is very simple again ! All these behaviors would become a habit after a certain time and turn into learned behavior.
I don’t know if you’re aware, but we don’t just regulate behavior, we also aim to improve our children’s sense of security and sense of foresight while doing all these things.
We are trying to increase his motivation, to make him more willing to do whatever he will do one step later. Our primary goal is for him to be more independent in his future life and to understand that he can be self-sufficient. While performing these, we aim to minimize both the question marks in the child’s head and his anxiety to a minimum level.

Is it easy to implement all this ?
Of course not…
In fact, I am aware of a much more difficult and time-consuming process. But we should still allow our children to try things and make mistakes. If we can achieve this, we will create an environment of peace and trust in the preschool period, and enable them to create internal discipline and experience ease in organizing during the school period.

As I said at the beginning, this is a long process that requires patience. It is up to you, the parents, to make this process easier and more successful.

How?

When practicing routines;

Be consistent and stable, repeat activities regularly so that they can become a habit in the long run.
Explain the situation to your child at special times, stating that there has been a change in today’s program, tomorrow it will be continued in the same way.
Be a role model. Show your child that you have routines too.
Mod College PDR Unit