Routines establish a predictable environment, which provides children with a sense of responsibility, control and security. Routines also encourage attention and warmth from childcare providers. Daily routines, such as meal times, nap times, toileting and arrivals and departures, need to be consistent and yet flexible enough to respond to the needs of individual children. By maintaining a familiar schedule, childcare providers ease a child’s separation anxiety as well as stress over what happens next.
Maintaining Consistency
Routines enable childcare professionals to provide guidance regarding a child’s behavior. They set forth clear boundaries, so children comprehend limits. Because children receive consistent messages about what behavior is appropriate or not, they learn how to become responsible for their actions. Childcare providers should also try to maintain continuity with strategies used at home, such as settling techniques, hygienic practices, toilet training and sun safety. For example, if a child uses a special toy or blanket for comfort, care givers should allow the child to bring it into a childcare environment.
Conducting Transitions
Allotting enough transition time between activities in a routine alleviates stress for children. By giving children the time to complete activities as well as a warning about an end-time, care givers encourage a child’s cooperation with the routine, according to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Children learn how to organize their time if the routine has been well organized and functions smoothly. If they’re frantically shuffling from one activity to another or doing two things at once, care givers risk chaos and also elevate a child’s anxiety.
Striking a Balance between Individual and Group Activities
When planning a routine, childcare providers need to strike a balance between individual and group activities, play inside and outdoors and quiet times and noisy activities, according to Diane Trister-Dodge, who wrote the Creative Curriculum. By doing so, care givers can develop a routine that covers the many areas of child development. Diverse activities framed within a routine can also encourage exploration and critical thinking. Care givers can take advantage of pockets of time that pop up during the day to teach children about new things
Responding to Challenges
Toilet training and nap time poses particular challenges for childcare providers. Routines that have been established at home should be discussed with care givers, so they’re prepared to handle issues that may arise with individual children. Concerning toilet training, care givers should ask parents to dress children in clothes that are easily taken off as well as provide an extra set of clean clothes and establish disinfecting practices, such as hand washing. With regard to nap time, children should be allowed to rest without being coerced to sleep. Care givers should encourage parents and children to supply pillows and blankets from home as well as stuffed animals or toys.
References
- “Child Care and Education: Cache Level 3”; Penny Tassoni; 2007
- PBS: Babies Are Children Too: Caring for Infants and Toddlers
- PBS: It’s the Little Things: Daily Routines
- National Childcare Accreditation Council Inc.: Bridging the Gap between Home and Child Care
- Louisiana State University Agricultural Center: Daily Routines Offer Children Security
- University of Kansas: Creative Curriculum
