We’ve all been there. Our day gets packed with activities and appointments, and our kids beg for our attention. Throw in a daylight savings time change and our entire week is now off course. Keeping kids on a regular schedule or routine can really help impact both our children’s day-to-day and our own. Here are some helpful ways to keep your kids on a schedule:
- Go to bed every night at the same time and wake up every morning at the same time.
- Create the same routine in the morning. Get up. Use bathroom. Brush teeth. Get dressed. Make bed.
- Create the same routine at night. Use bathroom. Brush teeth. Put on PJs. Read bedtime story.
- Keep in mind of child’s age. For younger kids, set smaller expectations. As they grow, set larger expectations and communicate these expectations with your child.
- Use a chart to help your kids know what to do when. There are several free charts available on the world-wide-web for you to try and tweak for your needs. Here are chart ideas we found on Pinterest.
- Be patient, consistent, and keep to the schedule. If your kids see you drifting away from the schedule, they will follow your example.
- Let your kids help you make their schedule. If they participate in the creation, there is a better chance they will stick to it.
- Evaluate the schedule every few weeks and tweak anything that isn’t working.
Don’t worry! You’ve got this and you have us for support!
