Tip of the Week: The Importance of Daily Routines
It is important for children to have consistent routines because they help to make them feel safe, confident, and ready to learn, said Kathy Wolfe, the STARS designator for ELRC Region 5.
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Predictable schedules for arrival, meals, play, rest, and transitions create a sense of security while encouraging independence, Wolfe said.
Early childhood educators and caregivers can support successful routines by:
Keeping a consistent daily schedule
Using visual schedules or picture cues to help children know what comes next
Encouraging children to take part in routine tasks, such as putting away toys, washing hands, or setting the table
Giving gentle reminders before transitions - for example, “In five minutes, we’ll clean up for lunch.”
Celebrating children’s growing independence with specific praise, such as, “You remembered to hang up your backpack all by yourself!”
“Simple, predictable routines build self-help skills, reduce challenging behaviors, and create a positive learning environment where children can thrive every day,” Wolfe said.
Other Resources
A Pennsylvania Key article from last year noted that the beginning of a new school year provides a great opportunity for caregivers to help children get into routines. In the article, the Pennsylvania Key notes that routines help children with everything from making sense of the world and learning how it is organized to feeling secure and safe when many things in their environment are constantly changing or learning new skills through repetition.
On Head Start’s website, the organization notes that schedules and routines are important for children and adults, especially during challenging and uncertain times. Similar to adults, children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. Head Start writes that when infants and toddlers take part in familiar routines and activities, they develop relationships with the people they interact with and gain a sense of self-confidence.