Your ELC shares three reasons why routines for mealtime, nap time, playtime, bedtime, cuddle time, etc. are important for children.
Every parent wants their child to succeed in life. And children’s success starts with a healthy and happy start in life. Part of this means children need healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development. How do we get this? One of the ways is through routine.
Routines give children a sense of security and stability
Routines give children a sense of security and predictability. It helps them feel safe in the world, which is an important part of developing their sense of self and independence. Young children gain an understanding of everyday events and procedures and learn what is expected of them as routines make their environment more predictable. Routines can also help infants and toddlers become more trusting of you as a caretaker if their routines are effective and they feel comfortable in the environment.
Routines influence children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development
Routines also allow children to learn how to manage their own emotions. For example, if your child knows that after you read a book at night, it’s time for bed, it can help them to relax more quickly than if they are unaware, that it is close to bedtime. Routines can also help children to manage their emotions and behaviours to adapt to changing situations. They can learn to anticipate changes in routines and slowly become more independent.
Routines help children learn about cause and effect
As children get older and become more aware of their surroundings, they start to see that certain actions lead to certain results — such as pressing a button on a toy phone causing musical sounds or turning on a light switch making it bright in the room. Routines can help reinforce this concept by giving parents opportunities throughout the day to point out how one action leads directly to another result.
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