Why Routines Are Important
It’s Back To School Time Again
Today we are returning to school after a 2-week holiday hiatus. This is an important time to pause, reflect and commit to promoting and practicing academic and social routines.
For students, the time leading up to the Christmas break teachers notice an increase in student mood swings, anxieties and general dysregulations. The holiday season certainly punctuates a sense of urgency and/or tension in many families and the children are the first to be affected.
Teachers witness the same phenomena in September, when children return to school after a full summer away from predictable and consistent academic and social routines.
Why Routines Are Important
The mental health benefits of routines are significant. Kids thrive with and demand repetition. Stress is decreased and kids are better able to manage their emotions. This can be said for anyone at any age.
Routines are paramount during times of separation and/or transitions. Routines help us feel safe. We know what to expect from situations and this gives us a feeling of control and lessens the unease of anxiety.
Routines help children develop independence. When a set of steps can be completed regularly and consistently, the better able the child is to develop a sense of confidence and mastery. Being able to perform basic life skills by oneself is absolutely empowering and opens the door to trying new things with a growth mindset.
When routines are consistent and predictable, children have less desire to engage in a power struggle and can better accept the fact that they are in control of their attitude and perception of the matter at hand.
Keeping a similar schedule every day is the keystone to making routines work for the entire family. Routines are new habits and new habits take practice, patience and minor adjustments until the routine fits well with each family dynamic.
The long-term benefits of maintaining and practicing routines are significant factors in a child’s emotional regulation and behaviour.
How To Make Routines Part Of Your Child’s Everyday Life
Easy steps to follow the routine can be shared through an app for older children or made into a visual chart for younger children. This visual is best when placed in a high-traffic area like the kitchen so it can serve as a reminder to your child for what to do next.
When in doubt, the child can check in with the schedule and move forward in confidence knowing that once the step they are currently on moves forward into another predictable step shortly.
Being flexible is also necessary and should be discussed as a family so that children become more accepting and able to shift their focus slightly to positively and briefly accommodate a new experience or environment. If kids know ahead of time, they are more equipped to make this transition during their regular day.
How We’re Here To Help
A predictable method of learning activities aligned with a rigorous curriculum offers a consistent academic learning routine for elementary students. This is exactly what you will find at Education Rocks.
The unit and lesson plans in our K-6 Learning Library can help your K-6 child practice learning activities in both English Language Arts & Literature and Mathematics as part of their daily routine.
All of our resources include engaging instructional videos, audio functions, and high-definition images. These resources can be used both digitally and non-digitally at home.
If you want to fully preview all unit and lesson plans, you can do so on our Teachers Pay Teachers page!
If you have any questions about any of our products, then you can email me at hello@educationrocks.ca.
Thank you for reading this blog post on the importance of routines. I wish you and your child(ren) or students all the best in the new year!