The payoff: greater productivity for your child, as well as better health and family relationships.Ī review of 50 years of psychological research, recently published in Journal of Family Psychology, shows that even infants and preschoolers are healthier and exhibit better-regulated behavior when there are predictable routines in the family.Įffective routines take commitment and consistency, with all family adults presenting a united front. Yet in just such times, structure becomes most important. Everyone is juggling schedules: work, school, recreation, music lessons, basketball practice, and so on. In these hectic times, it may seem impossible to provide a structured lifestyle. The message: We are a family who eats together we are a family who reads together we are a family who schedules regular times for schoolwork and other ongoing responsibilities. And family identity is solidified by routines in which everyone plays a role (Anna sets the table, Brian clears the dishes). What follows is a relaxed home, which yields stronger family relationships. Both parents and children experience decreased stress when there’s less drama about what time you’ll eat dinner and where you’ll settle down to do homework. In addition, your whole family will benefit psychologically from a structured regime. By building one, you send a message that says, “This is how we do things.” Routines make daily activities manageable, allowing your child to focus on one thing at a time. A predictable schedule offers structure that helps kids feel safe and secure. It may not always be obvious, but children want and need routines. In terms of behavior, they help improve efficiency and daily functioning. Routines affect life positively on two levels. The Benefits of Putting Your Child on a Schedule To make structure truly effective, routines need to be seen and implemented not just as simple behavioral strategies, but as a way of life. Usually, trying to implement a daily schedule doesn’t work because parents give up too soon. Every day becomes a battle, and we’re all worn out. Yet many throw in the towel after a few weeks (or even a few days) because the routines are not working.

Many well-intentioned parents enthusiastically start out to establish the structure their children need. Yet there is hope - even happiness - in sight. But when you’re raising a child with real attention difficulties in the real world, setting and maintaining such routines can seem downright hopeless. Do something fun to unwind before a regular bedtime. Make sure homework happens at the same time and in the same setting daily. You’ve heard it before: Set up a morning routine for kids with ADHD to get out the door on time. The keys to getting the ADHD organization help you need: belief in the power of family routines and a long-term commitment to them. All parents of children with ADHD have heard the routine about routines: Kids need structure, and children with attention deficit need even more.

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