From Hillary Clinton's Too Small to Fail: Starting School
Parents
of young children know that life is anything but routine with their
little ones around. Things can be even more chaotic when kindergarten,
preschool or daycare is thrown in the mix—it can be tough to plan for
school schedules while balancing family life.
Establishing
routines with young children can feel like an uphill climb at first, but
there are benefits that make it worthwhile. Routines are an important
way to help children learn how to manage social situations and to
establish good habits early on that will help them grow up healthy and
ready to learn.
Researchers have found that family
routines—establishing a regular bedtime, for example—are good for
social-emotional health in young children. In fact, according to a study
by the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, children who
regularly sing, play, story-tell, and eat dinner with their families do
better in school.
When children know what to expect on a daily
basis, they are better able to handle stressful situations that come
along later in life. In addition, establishing routines help children
better manage simple tasks like brushing their teeth and eating
breakfast, which will help them (and you!) when they begin school or
daycare.
Families with young children can set up routines that
encourage good habits by starting early. Snuggling on the couch and
reading a book every night before bed will teach even a very young baby
to look forward to going to sleep. Also, singing songs with toddlers
while driving in the car or eating dinner together a few times a week
will make the whole family feel more connected and maintain good health.
Resources for Sharing:
- This article from ZERO TO THREE outlines how parents can use routine to guide positive behavior and set good habits.
- Practical tips in this article from NAEYC about how parents can help their toddlers transition to kindergarten.
- This article from Raising Children Network explains how family routines work—and how they can help young kids prepare for school.
Video
This news clip featuring Camille Maben of First 5 California offers five tips for parents on establishing routine at home! >>
