routine/rhythm

[chrysalis]

do you all think having a routine in our kids lives is crucial? i mean, i'm sure my dd has had somewhat of a routine w/ certain things like swim lessons or getting w/ certain homeschool/unschool group friends but also i'm talking about home life routine...ie. bath time, bed time, brushing time of teeth, dinner time, clean up time...etc. i have NOT been good about this in MY own life for my self nor for my dd who is now 5. do you think i should get a better routine? my dd has gone thru a LOT in her 5 years and i am thinking i have been doing her an injustice in this area. thank you.

[Jessy1019]

We don't encourage routine at home. The kids sleep when they're tired, eat when they're hungry, etc, so aside from schedules that are imposed upon us by events outside our home, we are free to do as we please. Obviously, our bodies give us general guidelines, and many times we do things at approximately the same time each day simply because that's when we WANT to do them . . . but I don't think it is particularly helpful to impose a routine at home.

My kids are very very flexible and are happy to go anywhere at any time. As an example, when dd was 3.5 and I went into labor with her brother right after she'd fallen asleep for the night, we were able to wake her up to bring her to the hospital with us. She perked right up and was cheerful with us at the hospital for hours until after her brother was born.

Anyway, it was very important to me that they be this way, and I think not following a very strict routine helps kids develop more flexibility. If they are used to everything being a certain way, every day, it is very hard for them to accept change.

[Alyantavid]

I do encourage a routine for my boys. I like to know what's going to happen next and be prepared so I've kind of passed that along to them. But they've inherited alot of my personality traits and seem to do better with somewhat of a routine.

They know that after bathtime is bed time. It makes it easier on me and them that we all know this and there's not much room for wavering. I think it helps them get off to sleep easier and we're all happier not having a fight about bedtime. That's just an example, but in my experience, with my kids, they need a routine.

[Mom2Joseph]

My son needs this. Emotionally, physically...he loves a routine and thrives with it. I'm not inflexible, but he is much happier when he knows whats happening and when. I have a routine in excel broken down by 1/2 hours (umm, yep, I can be anal! ) and we try to follow the order of things even if it isn't at the exact time. My son has sensory issues and this has been so helpful for us. (good for my DH too -so he knows what is what when I'm gone)

[chrysalis]

hmmm sounds like some sort of a happy medium will probably work for us. megh is also very flexible and adaptable and has gone thru much change already in her life...she also was easily woken up for sheamas' birth and she stayed up for 11 hours + for my laboring and his birth, which she witnessed. she apparently conked out as soon as she was in the car ride home w/ my mom.

thank you for your input mamas.

[Jessy1019]

Originally Posted by chrysalis

she also was easily woken up for sheamas' birth and she stayed up for 11 hours + for my laboring and his birth, which she witnessed. she apparently conked out as soon as she was in the car ride home w/ my mom.

Haha, your mom was lucky! My daughter was all excited after they left the hospital and didn't want to go to sleep right away. I think when they finally lied down, she went out quickly, but before that, she was jumping on the bed.

[chrysalis]

yeah really!