Young children are reassured by predictable routines and a consistent schedule. Structuring their days helps children know what to expect. When children can’t anticipate or understand the sequence of their day, they can feel helpless and become stressed, leading to meltdowns and power struggles. Parents can establish routines to frame their child’s day, to help them feel prepared and encourage them to actively participate in rituals like dressing, bedtime, or school drop-off.
With our return to school, kids are easing back into their school routines and many have not been to school. Those that know and trust teachers, may still be reluctant to enter at the beginning of the day. You can help kids shift from home to school by forming a routine with your child. You can talk ahead of time about what to expect on school days, remind them of the various parts of the routine, and talk them through it as you go through each bit. You can go over what will happen after school, and who will pick them up. Sharing this story of their day gives them some ownership over it, and kids delight in telling and retelling about the events in their lives.
Make a plan for the goodbye. Some children may like some choices, ie how many hugs, but when your child is upset, it’s not a good time to ask them to choose. Try planning ahead of time. When the moment comes, stick to the plan. Tell them that you know what will help, and remind them that teachers can help them, too. “Now that we got hand sanitizer I’ll help you put on your mittens. I know that you like two kisses when I say goodbye, and after that the teachers can help you find your family picture.”
While you may worry that counting on routines will make your child overly dependent on them, these kinds of rituals and routines help your child build trust in their environment. A child who knows what to expect is more secure and self-confident, so they can be amenable to occasional changes that happen in their routines.
Amanda Speck , Park West Co-Op Preschool Teacher, contributed to this post.