What It Means
Family routines are the repeated, predictable patterns a household follows for the everyday parts of life: getting ready in the morning, coming home after school, eating dinner, doing chores and going to bed. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, says children do best when routines are regular, predictable and consistent. A good routine gives enough structure to keep the day from turning chaotic without becoming so rigid that it's boring.
Try It: Pick a Time of Day, See the Routine Tip
Choose a part of the day to see what HealthyChildren.org (AAP) and the CDC suggest for it.
Put as much in order as you can the night before, and keep wake-up cheerful and positive. (HealthyChildren.org)
A snack, some exercise, time to relax and study time, in whatever order works for your child. (HealthyChildren.org)
Eat together as often as you can, with devices and the TV off, and talk about the day. (HealthyChildren.org)
The same steps every night. The CDC's example for young kids is three words: brush, book, bed. (CDC)
Chores everyone pitches in on, plus time out together, like a grocery trip, a museum or a bike ride. (HealthyChildren.org)
Start with one part of the day and add the next once it runs smoothly.
How It Sounds at Home
- "Shoes, teeth, bag, out the door."
- "It's a school night, so it's the usual routine."
- "Dinner's at six, phones in the basket."
The Breakdown
How to build a routine
- Pick one part of the day that feels chaotic, often mornings or bedtime.
- List the steps in the order they need to happen.
- Do them in the same order at about the same time every day. The CDC sums up what makes structure work as consistency, predictability and follow-through.
- Tell kids what's coming next before it happens.
- Keep it simple. HealthyChildren.org notes that the simpler and more predictable the daily routine, the better for the family.
- When one routine runs smoothly, move on to the next part of the day.
Try it today. Write tonight's bedtime steps on a piece of paper, in order, and follow them the same way for the next week.
Routines worth having
| Time | What it can include |
|---|---|
| Morning | Things set out the night before, a cheerful wake-up, breakfast |
| After school | Snack, exercise, time to relax, homework |
| Dinner | Eating together without screens, talking about the day |
| Bedtime | The same steps each night, like brush, book, bed |
| Weekend | Shared chores, outings, family time |
Good to Know
The CDC's Essentials for Parenting says routines and rules help kids feel safe because they know what to expect. HealthyChildren.org also notes that routines around meals, homework, play and bedtime can teach children organization and help them build responsibility. Too much structure has a cost as well: the same AAP site warns that a routine that's too rigid can become boring, so leave some room to bend.
FAQ
Why are routines important for kids?
Routines help children know what to expect, which the CDC says helps them feel safe and secure. HealthyChildren.org adds that children do best when routines are regular, predictable and consistent.
What are examples of family routines?
A morning routineMorning routineA set series of steps you follow each morning, in the same order, to get yourself or your household up, ready and out the door on time. See more for getting out the door, an after-school routineAfter-school routineThe same set of steps a child follows between getting home from school and dinner, usually a snack, active play, some downtime and homework. See more with a snack and homework, family dinner, a bedtime routineBedtime routineThe same short series of calm steps a child goes through each night before sleep, such as brushing teeth, reading a book and lights out at a set time. See more, and weekend chores or outings.
How do you start a family routine?
Start with one part of the day, list the steps in order, and do them the same way every day. Tell kids what comes next, and add another routine once the first one sticks.
Do It in Buhata
Tasks
Add each routine's steps as repeating tasks in your Household Space in Buhata so everyone works from the same list every day.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Morning routine
A set series of steps you follow each morning, in the same order, to get yourself or your household up, ready and out the door on time.
- Bedtime routine
The same short series of calm steps a child goes through each night before sleep, such as brushing teeth, reading a book and lights out at a set time.
- After-school routine
The same set of steps a child follows between getting home from school and dinner, usually a snack, active play, some downtime and homework.
- Rituals of connection
Small, predictable routines a family or couple repeats to stay close, like a bedtime chat or a Sunday walk. The term is the Gottman Institute's.
- Visual schedule
A row of pictures or photos showing, in order, what happens next in a child's day or routine, so they can see what's coming.
Sources
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "The Importance of Family Routines"; HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "Age-Appropriate Chores for Children"; CDC, Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers, "Tips for Relying on Routines and Rules"
- www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/The-Importance-of-Family-Routines.aspx
- www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/communication-discipline/Pages/Chores-and-Responsibility.aspx
- www.cdc.gov/parenting-toddlers/structure-rules/index.html
Last updated .