Help Your Child Complete Important Tasks With Routines
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A routine is the perfect way to help your child learn and remember to do important tasks. Does your child often forget to brush his teeth, or maybe he leaves his clothes on the floor? A routine is a visible, yet gentle reminder for what the child needs to do before leaving the room.
Create a bathroom routine with a list of things that need to be completed before he leaves the room. This might include teeth brushing, face washing, putting dirty clothes in the hamper, and hanging up towels.
The number of items and what they are will change as your child grows and responsibilities change. An older child may no longer need the reminder to brush her teeth since it is now a habit. She may instead need a reminder to floss or put her makeup away before leaving the bathroom.
Apply routines in other rooms or for other purposes as well. Once the listed item becomes a habit it can be removed from the routine. As long as the child understands they must still complete that item.
If the child is too young to read or just needs the extra aid consider using pictures in addition to or in place of the words for an item. For example have a picture of a toothbrush and toothpaste as the reminder image for teeth brushing.
For short routine lists use an index card to write out, draw or paste pictures of the activity. Then laminate the card and attach it to a surface near where the routine occurs. In the bathroom simply attach it to the bathroom mirror with double sided tape or another adhesive device (that won’t damage the mirror).
Choose a visible location so your child will easily see and be reminded to complete the tasks. Have a dry erase marker handy that the child can use to check off tasks they completed.
These types of lists means the parent no longer needs to remind their child 5 times to do a task. Take yourself out of the equation and allow the child to experience independence. If the child asks or hasn’t completed the items simply refer her to her routine until all the items are complete.
Let your child know that these routines mean they no longer have Mom and Dad telling them what to do all the time. As long as they complete their routines, there is no need for parental interference (this is a huge benefit to many children).
When the items are complete and the parent verifies the child has done a good job on their tasks feel free to heap praise upon your child for their effort. There is no better reward than meaningful praise. Tell your child the benefits of their work, “brushing your teeth every day makes your breath smell sweet so Mommy and Daddy will want extra kisses”.
Simply wipe the marks of the list to start fresh the next day or the next time that routine is required.
