Routine

Take a moment and think about a routine that you have during the day. Many people have a morning routine that they do before they leave the house for work everyday...

6:30 - Wake Up

6:40 - Drink big cup of coffee

7:00 - Shower

7:15 - Get Dressed

7:30 - Brush Teeth, apply make-up.... etc..

Now think about what happens to your routine when you over sleep. Or what happens if you go to get your cup of coffee and you're out of filters? When one thing is out of place within our routine, it can throw off our whole day. The same goes for children, and especially toddlers. A routine creates security for a child. They know what to expect and there are no surprises. They know that after they eat breakfast, they can watch Elmo. After bath time, they put on their pajamas. After lunch time is nap time.

At my preschool my toddlers have a schedule that we follow everyday. It's not always at the exact time everyday, but it's in the same order, which is very important. One of the most important things to me in my classroom is being consistent with the routine.

Here are a few examples from my classroom:

After we clean up inside in the morning, we go outside.

After snack, we have diaper changes.

After Music and Movement Time, it's Group Time

After Group Time, it's Lunch Time.

After Lunch and Diaper changes, it's Nap Time.

By keeping everything in the right order you can prepare the children for what comes next, and not have to battle with them to do the next task. When a child is enjoying a certain activity like playing blocks or watching their favorite show, taking them away unexpectedly can cause them to get upset, cry and even throw a tantrum. But if the child knows that after Sesame Street is over the TV gets turned off, it will not be a surprise to them and it lessens the chances of having a very agitated little tyke. And we do not want that!

I am a strong believer in the "bedtime routine". Bedtime is often a tough time for children because they are tired and irritable, and they will do anything to not go to bed. A bedtime routine will not solve all the problems, but it will help the child to know that bedtime is coming and they will not be taken aback when you are sticking them in their bed.

One of the best ideas to include in the bedtime routine is a bath. Even if not needed for cleanliness every night, it is a great way to help a child relax before bed. A bedtime story right before kissing them good night is also great. Make sure it's a happy one, we don't want any bad dreams!

Don't Give Up!

Even if your child or the children in your class are having a hard time and there is a lot of protesting or objections, be consistent. Children learn quickly how to fall into a routine. And if you find that after trying for a little while the routine is not to your liking, tweak it a little. When you find what works for you and your child, or you and your class, stick with it!

I hope this helped anyone who is struggling with a toddler at home or a classroom full of antsy children.

If you have anything you think I should add, leave me a comment! I love learning from other teachers/parents! We are all in this together!

If you have any questions, leave me a comment! I am happy to help!