Creating a healthy routine for kids helps them be productive, disciplined, build some important life skills, and gives them the confidence to perform daily tasks independently. Here are the top 5 tips for setting a healthy daily routine for your young children.
 |
| Healthy Routines for Kids |
5 Tips For Creating Healthy Routines For Young Kids
Every parent knows that discipline and a perfectly organized daily routine are keys to healthy living. Children need to learn how to balance a routine from a young age – we often organize our life the way we remember it from our childhood. So, it’s important to implement healthy habits, establish certain respect for rules (leaving a place for creativity at the same time), and develop a sense of independence in your child. Here are the top 5 tips for creating healthy routines for your young kids.
Tip #1. Make it simple and flexible
For babies, toddlers, and young kids, life flies. They grow and develop fast, have a lot to learn and perceive, and are constantly excited by everything that happens around them. This means that they need a certain schedule to structure their activities, but this timetable has to be simple and flexible. The children’s needs change, and so the schedule has to change accordingly. However, a sense of structure has to be present to avoid a chaotic and scattered routine. At the same time, kids need a simple timetable, easy to follow and understand. Don’t overwhelm your child with different activities and impressions – he/she already has a lot to learn and engage in.
Tip #2. Set the priorities
When building your kid’s daily routine, start with priorities – the main activities and milestones of his/her day. For example, these can be mealtimes, time for rest, hygiene, time to find out something new and study, socializing, and family time. After you’ve planned the main activities, add something less important if you consider so. Teach your baby, toddler, or older kid prioritizing their daily routine, but do it simply and easy to understand. This is a significant skill for any successful person.
Tip #3. Consider age and development of your child
A healthy routine for your kid has to be created according to his/her age and development. Younger children need more frequent breaks and shorter activity durations, while older kids can stay focused for longer. Don’t overwhelm your toddler or older child with chores that are too complicated or take too long to accomplish. Instead, choose activities that your kid will perform with joy.
Examples of age-appropriate chores for kids
- Toddlers (2-3 years old) – putting away toys, carrying dirty clothing to a laundry basket
- Preschool (3-5 years old) – making a bed (with assistance), assisting in setting the table for dinner, dusting surfaces during a clean-up, feeding pets (with supervision).
- Elementary (6-10 years old) – making a bed, washing dishes, folding laundry and putting it into drawers, helping with grocery shopping, cooking meals or at least snacks.
- Preteen/Teen (11+ years old) – washing dishes, doing laundry independently, taking out the garbage, cleaning the house, cooking meals, mowing the lawn, etc.
Tip #4. Involve your kid in building daily routine
It’s very useful to involve a child in creating his/her own daily schedule. This teaches your toddler or older child to be independent and responsible, boosts their self-esteem, and teaches them to make decisions easier. Later, all these qualities will help your kid build a successful and happy life. However, again, don’t overwhelm your little one, and don’t expect too much of him/her – remember that they’re still kids and are only developing their personality. But you can, for instance, ask your kid what he/she would prefer to do today or give him/her a choice to make. At the same time, you have to take into consideration your kid’s decision, not just ask and then ignore his/her opinion (because this is the worst thing you can possibly do). For older children, it’s very important to let them make mistakes and then help them see it, talking with them about avoiding the same mistake the next time.
Tip #5. Weave your child’s daily schedule into general family routine
A healthy routine for your kid should be naturally embedded into the general daily routine of your family. You can establish having one meal a day all together, despite adults eating solid food and a baby drinking hipp baby formula – you still can combine your meals somehow, or if you’re used to spending weekends outdoors, take your child with you and make it your family tradition, etc. Every member of your family has to feel comfortable, cared for, and get enough attention to live a full and happy life. When parents give all their time and energy to a baby, forgetting about each other, certain problems in their relationships might arise, which lead to extra stress and influence a family’s mental health. Try to plan your child’s daily routine, interweaving it into your own and other members’ of the family.
Conclusion
Creating a healthy daily routine for a child is a significant part of your kid’s development. Most people get their main habits and lifestyle from childhood years. By teaching your little one to follow a set schedule and establishing healthy habits, you’re showing them independence and responsibility, boosting their self-esteem, and helping them to make important decisions. All this will be useful for your child when he/she grows up and becomes a fully developed personality. However, always be supportive and understanding with your kid, don’t push too hard and expect too much, and lead him/her by your own example.