Parenting on the Plateau: Routine is Key

After indulging in a summer characterized by lazy days, waking up late and eating ice cream as a fourth meal, there is a very abrupt shift in day-to-day habits and behavior that must take place when fall rolls around in order for the new school year to be a successful one.  We've already tackled the , so let's talk about schedules and routine.

In a very informal study among my educator friends on Facebook, I asked what they felt was most important to kids' habits and environment as they return to school. It may be surprising that there was an almost unanimous agreement that a structured routine was necessary. This includes attention to scheduling, regular and consistent meal times and most importantly, a solid sleep schedule.

We shouldn't have to be reminded of the importance of sleep for a child but as they grow, so do their sleep habits and needs change. As children are transitioning out of naps or taking on a more active schedule in the school year, sleep becomes paramount to success.  Study after study prove this to be true.  The National Sleep Foundation and KidsHealth both encourage a minumum of 10 hours of sleep for children aged 5-12 and even more for those who are younger.

It's easy to forget that children need more sleep than we do - unless, like me, you too need at least 10 hours to function.  With working around parent work schedules and after school sport programs and the myriad of other events in our lives, we find reason to fudge on bedtime. Plus, putting your kids to bed at 8 p.m. gives you some down time to reconnect with your spouse or just catch up on your TiVo.

Win, win.

Aside from sleep, established routines with regards to morning wake up are also necessary. I've learned, that for my family, unless I make the effort to be up and moving, my kids don't see any urgency to dress or move on their own, which can easily start the day on an off note. 

For all of us.

I often forget that the groundwork for lifelong habits is being made before 8 a.m. and I need to be more motivated and accountable for making sure my children understand the importance of time management.

As much as I want to sleep in. 

And I do want to.

Scheduling goes hand in hand with routine and although it may seem that many members of the family are working in opposite directions, having a clear and balanced schedule is obtainable, if not beneficial.  Creating expectations of dinnertime togetherness or some other daily ritual has been shown to keep a family bonded and improve lines of communication.  Giving kids consistent quality time offers a sense of security and eases anxiety and other stresses that our children face. 

And who can't use a little more security. 

Use dinner time, or whatever daily chunk of time that works for you, as a time to find out what's going on in the classroom, who are your children's new friends or what came home in the backpack today (which no doubt will be appreciated by their teachers).

Setting routines isn't limited to school-aged children either.  Zero to Three offers some great insight into the matter for those with children just entering the world or those just entering their educational careers.

As much as we are setting these routines for our children, we're also setting them for ourselves. In the ever-changing, fast-paced environment we live in, a little routine is a good thing.