During early childhood children start to play more active roles in the family. Young children need structure and predictability every day. Routine helps children to know what to expect and gives them a sense of control. Meaningful and predictable routines provide structure that guides behaviour and aids in emotional development. Not only does routine provide structure and emotional safety but it also guides the development of the child’s sense of self and social skills. It can therefore be said that providing a structured routine in the life of your young child aids in the cognitive, emotional and social development of your child.

In my practise, part of my intervention with children is to educate parents in the importance of a routine. As individuals some of us don't like routine and find it boring and predictable. Children however need the predictability and safety that a routine provides. It is an important part in the development of your child, even if you, as a parent, don't like routine. I remember as a child my mother often forgot to pick us up from school. She wasn't the kind of person that liked routine. I remember though that I felt anxious every day when school ended; worried that she would forget to pick me up. The absence of routine thus creates anxiety in children, causing them to struggle with controlling their own behaviour.

Setting up a routine is a good way to blend structure, predictability and age appropriate boundaries. The following are some benefits and pointers to setting up routine in your home:

  • Routine creates predictability and helps children make sense of their world. Routine creates safety and over time it helps children to take risks. Taking risks is an important part in skill development.
  • Routine helps children to cope with change. Children experience change as threatening and scary. Having a set routine can help children cope with the unforeseen changes and/or traumatic events. I always advise parent who get divorced to keep the same routine in both houses. This helps children deal with the emotional pain that accompanies divorce.
  • Setting up a routine in the home, helps children to accept routine in other places like school. When children don't have a routine at home, they tend to act out at school and they find it difficult to do simple tasks such as sitting at the table to do class work, raising their hands to ask questions and waiting for the teacher to help them without demanding immediate attention.
  • When your child is young, keep demands as simple as possible. Always allow for age appropriate choices. Children need to learn how to make choices. If parents don't allow them to make choices they will never learn how to choose and to take responsibility for choices made.
  • Routines will help your child organize thoughts and feelings. Children need to be responsible for cleaning up their rooms and toys. This will help them to develop planning skills that they need for cognitive and emotional development.
  • Success with routines help children build positive self-esteem and confidence. Always give your child acknowledgement for the things they do right. Rather focus on positive reinforcement than focussing on negative behaviour.
  • It is always important to put fun and play into your child’s daily routine. All children (ages 0 – 18) need to play. Also keep your child’s needs in mind when setting up a routine. Homework needs to be done before 17:00, especially for young children. Just working and schooling will frustrate your child and create behaviour problems.

When it comes to routine it is also advised to make it concrete. Children react positively toward visual stimulation. Thus creating a visual calendar with pictures and stickers is a wonderful way of setting up a routine for your child. Make it fun and make your child part of creating this calendar. They are more likely to keep to the routine if they had a part in creating it.

During this article I highlighted the importance of structure and routine in the life of your young child. Routines do not need to be serious and you can have lots of fun creating and implementing them. Keep in mind that it serves in the best interest of your child and will help your child with organizing thought and dealing with emotions. Go have fun with this and help your child to develop into a responsible, well-adjusted adult.

“A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.”