Routines and Chores...
What if you woke up each day and had no idea what was going to happen? Or you had some idea but didn't know when? Knowing what comes next and who is coming or going is important for some children in feeling in control of their behavior. Routines create expectation and a sense of certainty (although we must also learn to go with the flow). Having established, general routines will prompt your children as to what's next and help them feel in control.
Tips for Routines:
1. Give your child some say. Want your child to do her homework before supper? Ask her to help make a loose schedule. Maybe she can watch a show first or have a snack before she starts her homework. If she gets to choose when she does her homework within your guidelines (before supper), she will feel much more willing to do it. Younger children can help decide routines as well. Does he want to brush his teeth before he gets dressed or after? Can he play with play dough after breakfast everyday?
2. Routines are not set in stone. Things come up. People stop by. Children get sick. We don't want to feel claustrophobic in our daily lives, having to do certain things by a certain time. Routines should give you a general idea of what is going to happen. For example, you get up, you eat breakfast, you get dressed, you go to school, and so on. There are times that we need to make note of, such as what time the school bus comes and what bed time is. But, overall routines are there to guide us.
Tips for Routines:
1. Give your child some say. Want your child to do her homework before supper? Ask her to help make a loose schedule. Maybe she can watch a show first or have a snack before she starts her homework. If she gets to choose when she does her homework within your guidelines (before supper), she will feel much more willing to do it. Younger children can help decide routines as well. Does he want to brush his teeth before he gets dressed or after? Can he play with play dough after breakfast everyday?
2. Routines are not set in stone. Things come up. People stop by. Children get sick. We don't want to feel claustrophobic in our daily lives, having to do certain things by a certain time. Routines should give you a general idea of what is going to happen. For example, you get up, you eat breakfast, you get dressed, you go to school, and so on. There are times that we need to make note of, such as what time the school bus comes and what bed time is. But, overall routines are there to guide us.
Tips for chores:
1. Start small: It's a lot of work to follow through when you tell your child to do something and they don't want to. So, give your child something you know he can do. Make the chore something fun at first, maybe even something you can do together.
2. Grow your list: As your child becomes more competent and compliant, try adding on more chores. Make sure you consider what he is capable of and what other jobs he has (homework, sports, etc).
3. Praise: Praise and thanks can go a long way in making a child feel he is doing a great job. Don't overdo it though; your excessive complimenting will mean nothing after awhile.
4. Vary: Have your child help choose the chores he does. Have more than one child? Rotate chores so everyone has a chance to do all the chores at one time or another.
5. Offer incentives: Allowance? Time with mom or dad? A sleepover? A day without chores? What would your child like to have as a 'reward' for completing their chores?
Check back next week for examples of chore charts that you can make at home or buy custom made from ABC Behave!
1. Start small: It's a lot of work to follow through when you tell your child to do something and they don't want to. So, give your child something you know he can do. Make the chore something fun at first, maybe even something you can do together.
2. Grow your list: As your child becomes more competent and compliant, try adding on more chores. Make sure you consider what he is capable of and what other jobs he has (homework, sports, etc).
3. Praise: Praise and thanks can go a long way in making a child feel he is doing a great job. Don't overdo it though; your excessive complimenting will mean nothing after awhile.
4. Vary: Have your child help choose the chores he does. Have more than one child? Rotate chores so everyone has a chance to do all the chores at one time or another.
5. Offer incentives: Allowance? Time with mom or dad? A sleepover? A day without chores? What would your child like to have as a 'reward' for completing their chores?
Check back next week for examples of chore charts that you can make at home or buy custom made from ABC Behave!
Free Routines and Schedules worksheet
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Use this worksheet to evaluate your current routine and plan out a new one. Delivered via email after checkout. Free.
