Menu Close

Routines: 11 Reasons Why You and Your Kids Need Them

Being a parent can be overwhelming with everything you have to do. If only your child would listen and cooperate.

Aha, there is a solution! Routines.

Many parents rely on daily routines, charts, and checklists to get kids organized for the morning, after school, and at bedtime. These tools are also great for helping with chores. Yeah, your child will probably resist, so it’s tempting not to enforce this new procedure. This is especially true for parenting a strong-willed child.

But stick with it!

And it’s never too early to establish routines for kids, even with toddlers. You can start simply and then add items as they grasp each step.

Make Parenting Easier—and More Fun!

Want your children to willingly listen? Turn frustrating power struggles into a fun game.

Learn how with Parenting—Let’s Make a Game of It, an entertaining book of 5-minute stories that teaches playful parentingplayfully. An Amazon #1 New Release in 7 parenting categories, it’s perfect for busy parents.

11 Benefits of Routines

With all of the following benefits, it’s easy to see why routines for children are worth creating—and enforcing.

1) Sets Expectations

Life is full of uncertainties.

That’s for sure! And this is especially true for children.

Routines set expectations, create consistency, and provide security.

2) Provides Stability

As children grow, they are confronted with many changes. Their life is full of constant and unexpected unknowns.

A routine offers a child structure in their unstructured world.

It provides stability by giving children control over part of their environment.

3) Creates a System

Routines simplify multiple steps into a manageable system.

It’s like pushing a pre-programmed button and creating a flow where one activity leads to the next. Your child sees a pattern rather than having to remember several individual steps.

4) Reduces Stress

Instead of constantly nagging, “Do this! Do that!” a routine changes a parent’s role from dictator to coach.

Goodbye bickering!

With established guidelines, things run more smoothly. Now it’s easier for kids to understand their role… and easier for parents to enforce the rules.

You can even reduce family stress while getting kids to do chores. Here’s to creating a positive family atmosphere!

5) Establishes Key Habits

A routine teaches a child what needs to get done. It also develops competency with important real-world tasks.

For instance, how to get ready in the morning, prepare for bedtime, do chores, and perform other daily living activities.

If your child is too young to read, include images on your chart. Now toddlers will be able to “read” each item.

6) Teaches Responsibility

Routines work well because they outline expectations in an easy-to-follow format.

And these expectations will follow your child throughout their life.

By encouraging your child to follow a routine, you’re teaching them to be responsible.

7) Teaches Time Management

When a child has a routine, they learn how long it takes to tackle each item on the list.

They learn to plan and develop time management skills.

And these are key tools they’ll use their entire life.

8) Fosters Independence

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
—Ancient Chinese proverb

A routine guided a child, teaches what needs to be done, and fosters independence.

Yeah, it’s easier to just do things for your child.

But that’s a disservice in the long run. We need to resist the inclination to do everything.

It’s more important to encourage independence, so a child can be self-sufficient.

And kids love being in charge of themselves!

All of this results in pride… which brings me to the next point.

9) Enhances Self-Esteem

Children feel a greater sense of self-worth when they accomplish things on their own.

Let’s face it, we can’t be there for our kids all of the time—and certainly not when they’re in school, college, and later in life.

Instilling confidence in your child provides them with the necessary tools for handling situations and life’s challenges.

10) Empowers Children

I highly recommend collaborating with your child to develop routine charts and checklists.

Yes, this will take longer, but it’s worth the extra time. By involving children in the process, you solicit their ideas, get them on board, and empower them.

Luckily, Pinterest offers tons of routine printables. You can select them with your child or use them as examples to customize for your family’s needs.

11) Allows for Family Connecting Time

As a child masters a routine, they’ll accomplish each task in less time.

Yay, you’ll have more quality time for connecting!

Remember to take a moment each day with your child, even if it’s only for fifteen minutes. Get at your child’s level to connect by sitting down or kneeling. Even if your brain is racing with things you need to do, give your full attention.

Put the Fun in Parenting

Want to stop power struggles and connect with your kids?

Turn frustrating, everyday challenges into a fun game. Your children will listen and cooperate willingly.

Learn how with Parenting—Let’s Make a Game of It, an entertaining book of 5-minute stories that teaches playful parenting playfully. An Amazon #1 New Release in 7 parenting categories, it’s perfect for busy parents. Only $7.99 (eBook) and $9.99 (paperback) on Amazon.

  Make parenting easier

  Empower kids

♥  Connect families

Want More Parenting Tips?

How to be a Fun, Playful Parent… in Less Than a Minute (Like Mary Poppins)

46 Playful Ways to Enjoy Parenting

13 Tips for Staying Sane While Working from Home with Kids

Posted in Parenting Tips

2 Comments

  1. Natacha

    I love this! I’ve always been a spur of the moment or wing it kind of person and that has also stayed with me as a parent. Since having 3 kids I have started routines to make things easier and it has made such a difference. We also do a race when cleaning toys. It’s so much fun and the job is done quickly. Thanks for this post.

  2. Karen

    Isn’t it amazing how routines help? It was great with my two kids, so I can only imagine how important it is with three children. Here’s to routines and fun games, like racing to clean up toys! Natacha, thanks for reading and sharing.

Comments are closed.