Routines and daily living

“Routines act like a general ‘road map’ to daily living. They provide a predictable sequence of events that allows a young child to feel safe and secure. This predictability helps the child to anticipate when events will happen, for example, after dinner we have a bath, brush our teeth, read stories, and then off to bed.”

Chapter three – Routines,  is by Nicole Rawson-Huff. Nicole’s background in child development and health has led her to many roles including child life specialist, ‘Parents as Teachers’ educator, and manager of a parent information helpline.

This third chapter emphasizes the importance of routines in young children’s lives. Nicole explains that many behavioral problems may be prevented by setting up predictable, consistent routines.

Parents will gain practical advice on setting up three of the most challenging routines in family life - mornings (getting ready and leaving the house routine), bedtime and mealtimes.