Is a daily routine for preschoolers necessary? YES! Each one of us has a routine. It is necessary to have a daily routine to ensure the overall healthy development of children. There must be a daily routine which has well-planned time to play, learn, have meals and sleep.

A daily schedule is crucial because it gives young children a sense of stability and security. According to studies, children who follow a given schedule are more likely to have better mental, physical, and cognitive skills.

When children have a routine, they gain an understanding of everyday procedures, activities and systems. They understand the expectations, which make their environment predictable. Setting a routine tells them how long a task should ideally take, and builds up the habit of focusing on the task at hand instead of playing around.

Benefits of routines for kids: 

Routines are a way of making your kids practice certain things again and again until it becomes a habit for them, and until they can eventually do them without your assistance. 

1. This helps your kids develop things like their motor skills and memory. Simple actions like those like getting dressed for school, tying their shoelaces, and packing their books can all be taught to them by making them practice these actions through their routines. 

2. Adding “helpful” elements to the routine like adding regular reading and cuddling time with your child before bed. This helps them feel ready to sleep.

3. Working towards consistency and making room for flexibility is a key factor in setting routines. One will need to make sure to keep it as regular as possible. However, one must be open to flexibility, especially for holidays and special events.

As time passes by, one gets to know what’s working and not working for the family. A routine is meant to help the family and should not hinder it. Be sure the routine is healthy and positive for the child, as well as other family members.  The child, for example, might notice that eating breakfast together on Saturday mornings is important. They can see that family time together is special. Even if your child is young, they will pick up on these traditions. The family bonds together by doing regular, important things together. As the parent, you become a partner in that routine, rather than the person who is always instructing the dos and don’ts.

Routines create a strong family bond: 

Routines help to create a strong family bond time as it helps the other members also to be available for the child and family time activities. When a child knows what to expect, they begin to understand what is important. This strengthens beliefs, values and interests.

It creates a calm environment. Since the child and family members know what to expect, stress and anxiety are reduced. They will feel valued because they are included in the plans and don’t feel forced to do something. It gives the child confidence and independence.

Young children often tend to fear things that are either unknown or new to them, which can cause stress and discomfort. A daily routine can help to reduce this stress and bring a sense of normalcy, security and comfort to them. Rather than always being told what needs to happen, your child will feel confident to go ahead and be in charge of themselves. When children feel empowered and independent, they are less likely to rebel or retaliate.

It establishes healthy, constructive habits. From brushing your teeth regularly to completing homework every afternoon, routines help establish constructive habits. Children who practice these skills will be able to better manage their time. As they age, they’ll have more self-discipline in terms of healthy grooming and eating habits, along with studying and cleaning their rooms.

It helps the parent remember important things. If your child knows what’s on the schedule, they anticipate and look forward to future events – such as going to the park on Friday afternoons or spending time with Dad on Sunday mornings. When these activities are established, your child feels like a loved part of the family and the world. It offers your child an opportunity to get excited about what’s ahead. 

What happens when the established routine is formed?

When the family has an established routine, normalcy is present in the child’s life, no matter what is going on. A child finds calmness, stability and love through elements of the routine, such as family dinners or a regular trip to the playground. The flexibility in the schedule is equally important, when a schedule becomes too regimented or strict, the benefits will be reduced, and children may feel controlled by it rather than experience freedom.

When children have a daily routine oriented towards the environment, they learn by exploring and interacting. It helps them to become more independent and have more self-control. 

The best way to create learning opportunities for kids is by setting a daily routine for them!

A daily routine provides learning opportunities

Our everyday actions include activities that help children with speech and language development and fine and gross motor skills and support your child’s early learning journey. Routines are a tool for you to get through the day without tantrums. Having a daily routine will make it much easier to deal with tasks you’ve planned to do throughout the day. 

The key is to keep it simple. No matter what is part of the routine, make sure that the tasks are relevant to them and easy to accomplish.