Getting Your Child Back into the Routine of Things

Back-to-school season is here and Gwinnett County area children are probably getting excited about shopping for new clothes and being able to see their school friends. And, while education is an essential part of growing up, we here of The Goddard School located in Snellville, say other factors like waking up earlier in the morning, brushing teeth and packing a school lunch are also important, as it helps develop an organized lifestyle and further a child’s growth.

It is so important for children to get into the routine of going to sleep at a reasonable time, knowing what daily morning chores they need to accomplish each day and other things of the like. In addition, the school year is great because it allows children to be around their peers more often throughout the day, and this promotes social stability. We encourage parents to get the ball rolling and start implementing these routines – even before the school year begins.

Routine establishes many aspects of healthy living, good habits and good behavior that even the slightest structure can make a huge difference in a child’s day-to-day life. We suggest parents, with young children, ask themselves the following questions:

* Do you post a list of nighttime and morning to-dos on your child’s bedroom door or on the kitchen refrigerator as daily guidelines for your children?

* Do you read a bedtime story to your child each night?

* Do you have a designated area in your child’s room or elsewhere in the home for your child to store his or her coat and school book bag?

* Does your child have a bedtime on school nights and on weekends?

* Do you wake up your child in the morning? Or, does your child have an alarm clock in his or her room to wake up on time?

If you have answered “no” to most of these questions, it might be time to implement more routine chores. The Goddard School suggests the following ideas that could help parents save time and institute organizational skills for their kids:

* Be sure to discuss the highlights and events that happened at school with your child each day.

* Help your child prepare for school the night before, including assisting your child in selecting clothes to wear for school. After a while, he or she will be able to do this without your assistance.

* Designate a time each night that your child should go to sleep. Children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night, depending on their age.

* Choose an area in the home, such as by the front door, to store your child’s school bag and any supplies he or she may need for school (e.g., art projects, thank-you notes/gifts for teachers).

* Have a daily to-do list posted in an area your child will see each day.

Just like we practice at The Goddard School, regular schedules create a day with structure. The repetition of routines encourages your child’s memory development, and the consistency helps him or her adjust to a regular schedule.

The Goddard School located in Snellville offers a year-round program for children from six weeks to six-years-old. Children are encouraged to develop at their own pace in a warm environment supported by a team of dedicated teachers. The Goddard School FLEX Learning Program™ is based on a unique learning continuum that encompasses developmental guidelines, formative assessments and child-focused lesson plans that are delivered in a creative and fun environment with a child-centered approach to meet each child’s individual needs.

Visiting our School is a great way to see our programs in action, introduce you to our teachers and answer your questions. We offer Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Private Pre-K,Kindergarten and now First Grade as well as an After School Program for local elementary students.

The Goddard School in Snellville

EMAIL: snellvillega@goddardschools.com

Phone: 678-344-0042

FAX: 770-985-5262

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1565 Janmar Road

Snellville, GA 30078

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http://www.goddardschool.com/atlanta/snellville-janmar-road-ga
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About The Goddard School The Goddard School (www.goddardschools.com) is a nationwide franchise of Goddard Systems, Inc. headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. With over 330 franchised schools nationwide and 42,000 children enrolled, Goddard is the fastest growing preschool in the United States. Goddard was recently recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as the “#1 Childcare Franchise” for the eighth consecutive year (January 2009) and Franchise Times magazine as one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales) for the second consecutive year (October 2008).