Whether you’re navigating working from home, a new school year beginning, or a move to a new neighborhood, it’s essential to establish new routines to help little ones feel grounded. While they may seem small, little moments of structure and similarity can provide a template for great days, weeks, and even years!
1. Start The Day Off Right
The beginning of each day holds many possibilities, so it’s important that your family starts it off on the right foot. Focus on the basics: food, clothing, and positivity. If you need to drop a child off for child care or schooling, set a leaving time that is 15 to 30 minutes earlier than you know you should leave. This will allow time for the inevitable forgotten items or last-minute bathroom visits that can sneak up on you.
2. Find Child Care That Provides Consistency
Ideally, the safety and structure that children find at home should be continued at school or child care. When you’re choosing child care, ask questions about the daily routine that is in place for children. Is there a healthy mix of learning activities and outdoor play? Are there opportunities for enrichment activities like art and music? While many parents focus on curriculum, it’s also helpful to ask about meals, snacks, and quiet time routines. Above all, find child care that understands and is committed to meeting the multifaceted needs of children.
3. Make Mealtimes Special
The time you gather together to eat can be a wonderful opportunity to check in with each other as a family. Choose a trio of questions to ask each other at dinner to hear about your days. You can share one thing you’re grateful for and a highlight or challenge from each day. Some families call this exercise “Roses and Thorns.” All in all, having a structured time for sharing feelings can help kids (and adults) practice vulnerability and gratitude.
4. Wind Down With a Bedtime Routine
Try to set a consistent bedtime for your little ones, both for them and for you. Numerous studies show that bedtime routines contribute directly to the length and quality of toddler sleep. Let your children know ahead of time when the bedtime routine will begin. This will help them mentally and emotionally transition from playtime to sleeping time. Make bedtime a time when you and your child can cuddle up, read a book, hear a story, or listen to a lullaby.
Soothing lighting, essential oil diffusers, and white noise machines are all ways of creating a calming atmosphere that encourages rest. Once your child is asleep, don’t forget to take time for yourself! Settle in with a good book, a hobby, or a favorite television show to relax and reset yourself before bed.
The Gardner School Builds Family-Friendly Routines
If you’re looking for exceptional child care that helps support your family, contact us today to learn more, or check out our virtual tours on our website for The Gardner School nearest you. You’ll quickly see why parents choose The Gardner School!