Now that school’s in session, stick to a schedule

Posted Sep 30, 2010 by Sherri Ackerman

Updated Sep 30, 2010 at 02:07 PM

Now that the school day has become routine for many families, child advocates suggest parents make a special effort to stick to a schedule.

Why?

It makes life easier for your child – and you.

I learned this the hard way.

Always in a rush, never quite ready, making a list in my head – that was my routine for the better part of my life.

Then I had children and now I understand completely why routines matter.

My son and daughter are much calmer when I do everything by the book.

A typical day involves picking them up from school, squeezing in a few minutes on the playground, coming home and make dinner, watching a little PBS, bathing, reading and, at last, sleeping.

Somewhere around 9 p.m., my husband and I get to relax – sort of.

We make the lunches, RSVP to the birthday parties, and gear up for what we hope will be exactly the same kind of day.

When we deviate from the schedule, it often wreaks havoc on everyone.

Claire Haas, vice president of education at Kiddie Academy, a national child care education franchisor, offers these suggestions:

• Make mornings go quicker by preparing the night before. We try to make lunches ahead of time – including ours.
• For dinner, worth together setting the table and talking about the day. Let little ones help clear the dishes. As often as possible, sit at the table as a family – not in front of the TV. This sparks conversation and provides learning opportunities.
• Homework can be a tricky routine. Haas suggests watching your child for cues about the best time. For my son, it’s often in the morning. I’m sure that will change once he moves from preschool to kindergarten.
• Before bedtime, make sure not to over-stimulate your child. Avoid TV or rambunctious play. Typically, children from kindergarten to third grade need about 20 minutes of reading a day – and bedtime is the perfect time for this. Establish a set bedtime, and move mountains to stick to it.

For more information, check out Kiddie Academy.