Structure and schedule

Regular day routine

Regular schedule creates a feeling of safety for children and helps the running of chores and errands even if it may be heavy-going for parents at times. A child understands his or her environment and actions in relation to the surroundings through repeated, familiar events.

Important:

• Insist on agreed arrangements and rules.
• Important daily tasks to carry out include morning routine, meals, outdoor exercise, evening routine, bedtime.
• Remember family roles: parents make the final decision.
• Routines are a way of increasing family time and interaction between parents and children.
• Sometimes starting a mere 30 minutes earlier may make a huge difference to the day.
• Everyday routines and worries can be discussed with day care or child health clinic staff.

What should I do when transition is difficult for the child?

Transitions include end of play, going outdoors, coming in for dinner or going to bed. Moving on to the next task may be hindered by the child’s tendency to get stuck to the previous activity. A child lives very much in the moment and the smaller the child is the more difficult he or she may find transition. A child may feel insecure or loss of control which may appear as defiant behaviour, joking, weepiness, slacking or physical symptoms.

• By explaining, talking the child through or use of pictures help with transitional situations.
• There should be enough time for the child to shift from one task to another.
• If the child is nervous of new situations, they should be discussed in advance as thoroughly as possible.
• Remind the child in advance, for instance, of having to stop playing in 30 minutes.
• If the adult stays calm, it will be easier for the child, too.