Consistency is Key!

Routine!

Students perform best in school when they know what is expected of them. When there is predictability in their day students transition more smoothly from one thing to the next. Now I’m not saying a little change is bad, and I defenitly hope all students can be flexible and accept change, however studies show (especially for students with special needs) that knowing what their day is going to be like creates a sense of security.

So if this idea works in the classroom why not try it at home?!

Mornings can be a crazy hectic time. Starting off your day in a stressful way will not set a good foundation for your mood for the rest of the day. A routine may help everyone get off to a great start. Ideas like putting your child’s lunch or backpack in the same place everyday, laying out clothes the night before, trying to wake up at the same time everyday, and allowing an ample amount of time for a healthy breakfast may make a huge difference!

When and where does your child do homework? Have a routine! If your son/daughter knows that everyday when they come home from school the first thing they must do is homework, there may be less battles. Consistency is key! Specific children work best at different times of the day and in different conditions. Figure out what works best for you and your family and stick to it!

Getting enough sleep is vital to school age children. Have a bedtime routine! Turn tasks such as teeth brushing and face washing into a nightly ritual that occurs at the same time every night. Rather than bedtime being a punishment make is something your child expects and enjoys. Try incorporating something that your child may look forward to such as reading them a chapter from a book, or discussing both the “high” and “low” of their day

At the beginning of each month, a friend of mine and her 8 year old create a monthly calendar. She uses a large poster board gridded with sharpie. She then fills in all the important events for the month and their normal weekly schedule events; “dance” on Tuesdays, “wear gym shoes!” on Wednesday (her class has PE), “dinner at grandmas” on Sundays, ect. Then she lets her daughter go to town crafting and coloring and decorating the calendar! The ability to go to bed knowing what to expect the next morning, or wake up and see what the day will hold mentally prepares her daughter and secures a sense of predictability in her day.