It's only a few days until we're back for a fresh, new school year, so it's a great time to talk about routine! The first few weeks of any school year can be hard as you transition from summer to school. Setting your family up in with a predictable routine is really important for children's development and for the mental health of teens and adults in your family. In fact, routine helps kid's brains organize and make connections for problem solving, creativity and adaptive skills. It supports healthy habits like nutrition, hydration, exercise and adequate sleep which all influence mental health. It also helps students to feel a sense of control over what goes on in their day, which can improve their motivation and engagement. As adults, routine helps us in the same way - to keep track of all the things we need to, and balance it with things we want to do that recharge and revitalize us.
Routines don't have to be rigid, in fact it's better for everyone if they are flexible. They should include roughly similar activities that occur at roughly similar times. Meals for example, are a great way to establish routine. Studies have shown that if you eat together as a family, it helps all members of the family to be healthier, both mentally and physically. By making a routine of meals (for example having supper together as many times as you can during the week) you give kids an anchor in their day, something they can expect to be the same, no matter what is happening in the world.
Bedtime is another great way to establish a routine. For small children, simple things like reading a story before bed each night, can help them to settle and fall asleep. If your kids live in more than one home, having a similar bedtime routine in each place can help make the transition easier. For older kids and teens, a snack and a few minutes of one to one time creates routine and also a chance to connect. It gets them off screen for a few minutes before they go to sleep too.
Remember to set aside some unstructured time in your routine. Play is really important for kids' development, and opportunities to simply use their imagination has been shown to be beneficial especially in times of stress. Older kids and teens (and adults) benefit from some regular 'downtime' to re-charge both physically and mentally. The amount of time can be longer or shorter depending on what your families needs are. What's important is the balance of work and fun, responsibility and wellness.
Transitions can be tricky and it may take some time to ease into your fall routine - that's okay! For kids, the most important part of any routine is that they feel safe and supported by the adults around them. For more tips on setting your students up for success this fall check out our Motivation Matrix.