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Study after study shows that schedules and routines help cildren cope, it is actually easier to deal with the sudden and unexpected
if you have a routine to return to, and especially if you can bring some of it with you.
A lot of people ask for specific schedules which is fine, but honestly a routine is between you and your family, mine has
been adapted many times as my children and my family grows. Where we once had to fit in two naps for my son we now need none
for him and one for my daughter. (I on the other hand could use one!)
Any good routine has some innate flexibility. If my kids are acting overly hungry and mealtime is not for hours I get out
a snack, if mealtime is just around the corner, we get it early. (if I can speed it up, if not we have the snack and don't
worry)
Our Schedule
Bedtime routines
Bedtime routines have a calming effect on people. I even find it hard to stay awake after my childrens routine, it makes
me sleepy too! (or maybe I am just pregnant and tired?)
Simple and short or complex and long, giving your child a few predictable pleasent and quiet things to look forward to
every night can only help ease the transition from day to night.
Depending on how you look at it, my bedtime routine is either 2 hours or only 10 minutes. If you include the bedtime snack
and showers it takes up 2 hours, if you just count the in bed part, it is short.
The list:
First we get a bedtime snack (high on protien low on sugar)
Brush teeth
Use pottys
Bath or shower
Pajamas on
Read a story
Pray
Then we split up
For my 1 year old daughter:
She gets extra kisses on her hands and fingers and always asks me to count fingers for her. Then I close up the blinds while
singing and head to the door way (final phase of 'fade out' link on left.) She talks a bit then falls asleep in her bed about
7:30.
For my 3 year old son
He reads to his father, then uses the potty one last time, then plays with any trucks he has earned for the day (link to truck
thing on left), then gets a few minutes on the computer with mommy (assuming he has earned it). Followed by being kissed good
night and tucked in about 8pm.
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