Our house is hectic and getting through the day is rough with my child.
Getting through the days is tough not only for you but also for your child. The unknown can be stressful.
Think about this… Do you have your own little “morning routine” that helps you stay on track and getting yourself and everyone else ready each morning?
Chances are, you do. Routines keep us on track and let’s face it… sane!
Perhaps creating a routine for your child could do the same for them.
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First things first… You’ll need to decide what the routine is going to be. Is this a getting ready for school routine? Or is this a bathtime routine? Knowing what the goal is will be important for success.
What you’ll need when creating a routine for your child:
- Identify the goal
- Figure out the steps
- When will this routine take place?
- Create a way to follow this routine – how will you prompt it?
Fade yourself and the prompts out. You need to ensure that your child can begin to complete this routine on their own.
If they can’t do it on their own, you’ll need to teach steps they still need assistance with until they can do it independently.
Step 1: Identifying the Goal
When it comes to starting a new routine, some steps need to take place before you even begin to start teaching it.
First, decide on the overall goal. What is it you want your child to do that will develop a routine?
Routines still have end goals. Will this routine aid in your child getting ready for school? Will they be getting ready for bed? Is homework time difficult and chaotic right now?
Knowing the goal helps to figure out what all will need to go into the routine.
Step 2: Figure Out The Steps
Now that you know what the goal of the routine is, now is the time to sit down and write out the steps.
Take for example a bedtime routine. You’ll need to decide what all will be included for this. Is your child going to take a bath or shower first? After that, will they brush their teeth or put on pajamas next?
Another strategy to use for this part is to include your child. Incorporating them can make this a fun and motivating routine for them to participate in!
Routines don’t have to be a run-of-the-mill series of steps that they complete. Make it so they are heard and involved. When kids get a choice, they are more motivated and apt to follow through.
Now that you have the steps laid out, it’s time to decide when exactly this new routine will take place.
Step 3: When Does It Take Place?
Alright, now that you identified the goal and looked over the steps of teh routine, time to decide when exactly to do this routine.
Will it right after school? After waking up? One hour before bedtime? Figure out the when because knowing when it starts is the second hurdle.
Once you have figured this out, be sure to stay consistent.
Consistency is key. How else will your child learn the routine and when exactly to do it?
Remember, the first few days, or even weeks, will be more difficult because this is different. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Keep in mind, when you decide to start a new routine, or habit, it’s hard at first. The difference here is that your child maybe hasn’t made to decision to include this new routine. Give them grace.
In terms of teaching the routine. Time to figure out the best way to teach it to your child.
Step 4: Time to Teach It!
Now that you figured out the goal, determined the steps, and have a time/place for this routine, let’s discuss how you’ll teach your child to follow it.
There are numerous ways to prompt and teach new skills and routines. For example, there are picture schedules you can use, text prompts (think post-its on mirrors), or timers.
What may work best for one child, may not for another. Remember, everyone is different!
Does your child respond best with pictures displayed? Perhaps just telling them it’s time for this new routine will be enough to move them along. Find what works best for YOUR child.
Also, try not to use what works for you. Remember, this isn’t your routine. It’s your child’s.
If you’re not sure what will work best, try different teaching methods. I would suggest starting with the least time consuming. Simply tell them when and what the steps are.
Take Aways!
When creating a new routine for your child, there are several steps to take to achieve a well-rounded new routine.
- Identify the Goal
- Figure Out the Steps
- When Is This Taking Place
- Time to Teach It
Another important suggestion to keep in mind is to stay consistent. If you don’t keep it consistent, it’ll be harder to teach them.
Don’t be afraid to try different ways of teaching the routine. Not everyone learns best in the same manner.
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