Imagine omitting something from your routine, like if you’ve woken up late and skipped breakfast, and as you drive to work, you realize you forgot your phone and didn’t have access to your calendar.
It feels awful, right? And chances are you’d feel off-kilter.
Now imagine this happening to a child who’s just beginning to learn about everything around them. We don’t often think about it and rearrange their schedule without telling them. But like adults, children need their daily schedule for a sense of predictability and to feel safe and secure.
Transitions and changes brew anxiety. Children are just starting to learn to weather and understand their emotions. It might be difficult for them to adjust quickly and easily to uncertainties. To help them self-regulate, we need to have a stable and precise daily schedule that they can access anytime.
The importance of a clear daily routine for children
Many daily activities are based on a step-by-step process. For example, routines like making the bed, brushing teeth, taking off PJs and putting on clean clothes, wearing shoes, and combing their hair are all steps of a logical routine. And these steps fit together around a central theme – preparing for the start of the day.
When little ones take part in familiar activities and routines, they gain a sense of belonging and self-confidence. Research says that children who have a predictable routine become independent and adjust to change more quickly than children who don’t.
Now, to illustrate more of the advantages of a daily schedule, here are the six benefits we observe at Chabad Early Learning Center.
1. Schedules help children get on track.
Daily and weekly routines establish a structure for learning at home. A consistent routine will help develop their “body clock” to consciously or unconsciously follow basic day-to-day tasks such as eating healthy full meals, taking naps and getting a full night’s sleep, and having a regular bowel movement.
Children know how the day will unfold, and the schedule’s predictability facilitates fun and comfort. And when they get off track, accessible printed schedules can help them get back on track quickly.
Since we’ve mentioned predictability, let’s discuss the second reason for using a daily routine or schedule.
2. Schedules establish expectations.
Familiarity with the activities for the day provides comfort for children. This is especially true during challenging and uncertain times like when Mom and Dad aren’t home, and children are left to be cared for by a nanny or older sibling.
It also removes the power struggle between parents and children over issues like asking them to take a bath, read their lessons, or go to bed. When children know when bedtime or playtime is, they feel they are in control and independent.
Children begin to expect and complete activities without protest, without parents needing to direct them to do this or that. Instead, parents become a partner or guide as children complete the routine.
3. Schedules are calming.
Since schedules take away the power struggle between parents and children, you can expect a calmer household.
Anxiety arises when children are thrown into a state of disarray and uncertainty. Without a clear schedule, this is what the little ones experience. For children, having a routine is essential for their mental health and behavior.
When a schedule is posted in the home, children and parents can access it anytime. Stress and anxiety can be reduced because the child and the parent know what to expect during the day.
When the child knows what comes next, they feel valued because they feel they belong in the family plans and don’t feel like they’re being forced to do something.
4. Schedules promote confidence and independence.
With a consistent routine, a child will learn over time when it’s time to do things like brushing their teeth or picking up their toys and putting them away. They will take pride in knowing what they are supposed to do and accomplishing it by themselves.
Not only that, but with an accessible schedule, children can go back and check the remaining tasks to finish. And seeing each task done individually gives them a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
When children know what to do next, they will feel confident in taking charge of themselves. This is the opposite of telling them what to do for the day. When they feel controlled, they are more likely to insist on their independence, rebel, and fight back.
5. Schedules promote healthy, constructive habits.
Time management is learned at a very young age. Children have no exact awareness of time. When you tell them they have 15 minutes to brush their teeth or 30 minutes to finish their food, they don’t know how long those periods are.
This is why sticking to a daily schedule helps a child know how long they have to complete each task. And knowing this helps them manage their time well.
From regularly brushing their teeth to finishing their homework every day, schedules help establish constructive habits for your child. They will manage their time better when they become used to these routines. And when they are older, they’ll have more self-discipline in completing household chores and taking care of themselves.
6. Schedules get your child excited about what’s ahead.
It’s exciting to anticipate a trip with your children to a nearby park or museum, right? That outing means time to relax, unwind, and bond. The same goes for children.
If your child knows what will happen, they’ll look forward to future scheduled events like going to museums or parks on Friday afternoons or visiting their grandparents on Sunday mornings.
Also, when children know you’ve included their favorite things like playtime, movie time, or an outdoor stroll, they will feel loved by the family and the world.
How we use the daily schedule at Chabad ELC classrooms
In an emotionally-responsive classroom, an accessible daily schedule is important. Children must understand who they are in a place they feel safe, secure, and supported.
And children can experience this by creating daily schedules.
Every classroom at Chabad ELC has a visual schedule on the wall. This keeps our students regulated for the whole day. The day’s predictability frees their minds to play, discover, and interact with other children without constantly thinking about what’s happening next.
To see a sample of our schedule, click here.
You can adapt this practice at home by creating a simple daily schedule based on your family routine. Have it written or printed, then ask your child to decorate it. And together, hang it in the place you and your children choose.
If you wish to personally visit Chabad ELC to learn more about our practices in creating an emotionally responsive classroom, contact us today using the information below:
Phone: 212-864-5010
Email: admissions@chabadelc.com
Or you may schedule your visit online via https://chabadelc.com/admission-inquiry-form/
See you there!
