Many parents do not get off to a great start in the morning, and it seems like it takes a lot of energy, effort, and time to get out of bed finally. You might even find yourself trying to make them work harder, so they leave the house on time. Unfortunately, when your children are young and still developing, these habits are hard to instill since they don't understand how difficult it is for their parents yet.
There are different ways to get your kids into routines and help nurture healthy relationships by helping out. Below are some pointers on establishing a schedule that will boost your kid's self-esteem, help them become more independent, and strengthen the family unit.
Setting up a routine is easier said than done. You must remember that routine is a habit, and you can not start one once you've already started. If you give your child 20 minutes to get dressed in the morning, then the next day you decide you would like them to start getting ready at 7:30 – it's not going to happen. Please set a new time & understand that there will be struggles ahead.
Once you have decided on a routine, you must remain consistent. Although there will be days when things don't work out, sticking with your plan is important. If one day you decide to stay in bed and sleep the morning away and your children get up when they feel like it, then there is nothing that will help them learn how to get up on time.
After a long day at work, a decent night's sleep is vital for everyone in the family. Although you want to spend time with your children, if you are trying to get them ready in the morning, it will consume a lot of your time. It is important to come home reasonably, relax with your family, and then go to bed early. This will give you plenty of time in the morning and a great start when getting your kids ready for the day.
Parents often work very hard during the day and do not relax, which leads to missed opportunities for their children. So you must take time out for yourself so that you will be able to relax and let their children be kids again. It also helps your child learn how to put chores, homework, activities & playtime into perspective as a whole family.
Parents often have a hard time letting go and enjoying their children unconditionally. If you find yourself saying things like "I don't know why the kids don't listen" or "why can't they get up on time?" then this is a sign that you are too hard on them. This is called dismissing your kids' behavior – but it will only make them feel inadequate and frustrated. Always be calm and let them know they are not in trouble.
You must stay connected with your children when it comes to your routines. Although a routine schedule is critical, you do not want them to feel like their parents are controlling them. The most important part of this process is that you are working together as a family to ensure everyone is on the same page & knows what is expected of them.
It is always best to have a family discussion about what will be done in the morning and afternoon so that everyone knows what is expected of them. They will feel more involved and happier with the time spent together. If you do not include your children, or if it is all about you, they will feel like you are trying to boss them around and make their lives miserable for no reason.
Although there are many different ways to plan out your kids' routines, one constant is always best to be consistent. If you are going to make a change, make sure it sticks for the long run. For example, if you decide to get up at 8 am, stick with it even if things don't go as planned. This will help you & your family get into a good rhythm.
