How to create routines at home

Establishing routines helps family dynamics achieve long-term benefits: such as security, trust, healthy limits, a calmer climate.

With routines, children learn to be responsible for their own behavior and it gives them security. In addition, they are one of the most effective tools to manage certain moments of tantrums such as bedtime, eating, bathing, doing homework, getting ready in the morning…

During the first year, routines are created by adults, marking a time to eat, sleep and bathe, since they depend entirely and because they are smaller they adapt easily.

The tantrums or situations that we mentioned earlier usually appear when they grow up, around the age of 2, where children are constantly focused on their interests and games, and taking them out of their activities frustrates them, makes them angry and often annoys them.

It is for this reason that creating routines together with them is the best way to involve them in the process, they feel taken into account and will show a better attitude.

They can find a quiet moment to work out the routine and talk about it, offer options on how to organize the routines, for example:

“Do you want to brush your teeth first or change into your pajamas?”

When we give children options, they feel like they have a choice.

It can also be assembled on a blackboard or cardboard, and leave it in a visible place, a board with the order of the routine, adding images or drawings that refer to one of the moments of the routine.

Also practice the routine through play, since in play they are also learning!

And finally, ask direct and specific questions:

“what should you do before putting on your pajamas?” or “I see that you brushed your teeth, what do you have to do next?”…

And give them the space so that they can feel part of those decisions and that dynamic that they put together together.

In the process of educating and raising challenges always appear, both for adults and children… and without a doubt, routines are a good strategy to help them feel more secure and confident.