Family Routine: How to Create a Flexible Daily Routine You’ll Love
Creating a family routine doesn’t need to be difficult or boring! In this blog you’ll learn how to create a daily routine for your family that you’ll love. Plus get a freebie to help you out!
A family routine is a great way to keep your family on track and build a solid foundation. They help create healthy habits for life and provide security for your children. They can even help build your child’s confidence and who wouldn’t want that?!
As a stay at home mom, myself, having a daily schedule and routines has always been important to me. Navigating the whirlwind of daily life with young children can feel like orchestrating a symphony without a conductor sometime! Between feedings, nap times, playdates, and unexpected tantrums, I know the idea of establishing a routine might seem daunting. However, having a flexible routine in place can bring a sense of order and stability to your family’s dynamic, allowing you to navigate each day with more confidence and less stress. They might even make you feel more ready to take on the unpredictability of children with ease!
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The Importance of Daily Routines for Young Children and Moms
Before we dive into how to create a flexible routine, let’s explore why establishing daily routines is crucial for both young children and families. There may be more good in them than you even realize. Therefore, I truly encourage you to give a schedule a try, even if it doesn’t seem to work at first. It will take some time to get into these healthy routines, but I’m sure after a month or so, your family will get use to it and these habits will be second nature!
1. Predictability and Security
Young children thrive on predictability! A consistent routine provides a sense of security and stability, reducing anxiety and helping them feel safe in their environment. Kids cannot tell time, therefore they rely on daily cues -routines- to understand their day. For moms, knowing what to expect at certain times of the day can offer a sense of control and reduce stress.
2. Establishing Healthy Habits
Routines help establish healthy habits in the now and in the long run. For example, establishing regular meals, naps, screen time, bedtime, etc. can help make life easier and transition times simpler. This promotes better physical health, emotional regulation, and overall well-being for both children and moms.
3. Efficiency and Productivity
A well-planned routine can increase efficiency and productivity. By structuring your day, you can accomplish tasks more effectively, leaving room for quality time with your children and self care! Who doesn’t love the sound of that?
RELATED: The Ultimate Laundry Guide – Create the best laundry routine ever!
Tips for Creating a Flexible Routine for Your Family
Now that we know why having a family routine is so important, let’s discuss some practical tips on how to create a flexible routine that adapts to the unpredictabilities of life with young children. Keep reading for a free daily schedule template at the end of this blog so you can put everything you learn from this blog into action! Are you ready to feel super motivated and excited about each day? Then let’s go!
1. Start with the Basics
Identify key anchor points in your day that are important to you. This could be wake-up time, meal times, nap times, and bedtime. Build your routine around these essential elements.
2. Be Realistic
Allow flexibility within your routine by setting realistic expectations. Leave room for unexpected events and be willing to adapt as needed. We all know nap times don’t always go as planned or maybe one day you have an midday playdate and you’re home a little later for dinner time. Having a dinner/evening routine will still help you get on track even if you’re behind.
3. Create a Visual Schedule
Use a visual schedule or chart that outlines your daily routine/schedule. Include pictures or drawings for younger children to understand and anticipate the day’s activities. This can be super fun for toddlers and older children! They love learning the days of the week and knowing what’s coming up in their life. This Melissa & Doug calendar is loved by 6 year old!
4. Prioritize Flexibility Over Rigidity
Instead of strict time slots, use blocks of time for different activities. For example, designate a morning playtime block rather than specifying an exact start and end time. This could mean playtime is from 8:00 to 9:00ish while you clean up the kitchen from breakfast and get ready for the day. It might not take the entire hour and it might not start right at 8:00, but you and your child will still know what to expect after breakfast!
5. Stay Open to Changes
Embrace spontaneity and be open to adjusting your routine based on your child’s needs or your family’s schedule. Every 3 months or so, reevaluate your daily routines and see what might need some changing. Sports and activities might affect your schedule or your child being ready for a later or earlier bedtime might cause it to be readjusted as well.
6. Involve Your Child
Engage your your child(ren) in the routine-setting process. Let them have a say in certain activities or choices within the schedule, empowering them and fostering cooperation. When you think of your family as a team instead of you and your children competing, it will make your family routine feel a lot of easier and more fun!
7. Use Transition Times
Incorporate transitional activities between tasks to help your child shift smoothly from one activity to another. This can be a something like a brief story, a song, or a quick outdoor break. Some kids transition easier than others, so find out what works for you and your kids!
8. Batch Tasks Together
Group similar activities together to streamline your day and keep you motivated. For instance, plan outings or errands during a specific time block rather than spreading them throughout the day. It’s a pain to get kids in and out of the car, so plan all your errands at one time or during times you know you need to go out, such as school pick up time. If you forget a errand, save it for the next day if possible.
9. Be Flexible with Screen Time
I know there are many opinions around screen time, so if screen time is part of your routine, use it strategically. It’s ok if you’re kids watch some tv. Reserve it for times when you need to focus on tasks or during designated relaxation periods. There are some really great Instagram accounts out there that help moms with reducing screen time, encouraging independent play, and so on. Find an account that serves you and apply tips that work for you throughout your day.
10. Practice Self-Compassion
Understand that not every day will go according to plan, and that’s okay. Be kind to yourself and adjust your expectations when needed. Also, when you know you have a later night and bedtime might not be on time, prepare yourself for it and know that your kids will be ok going to be an hour or so later than usual. I use to get so worked up when my kids didn’t get to bed on time and it honestly made our bedtime routine harder because I was stressed out and annoyed. So remember to relax and know everything will be ok.
Free Schedule Template
Need a little push to get your daily schedule / routine off on a good start? I got you covered mama! My free daily schedule template will help you out big time. You’ll get my daily schedule that I use for my family of 5 everyday as an example, plus you get a blank template for you to fill out. I truly believe you can get into a great schedule, but they only stick when they work for you and your family! Everyone’s schedule will look slightly different, so if you have to switch yours up a few times before you find something that works, that’s ok! Sign up below to get your free schedule template right to your inbox!
Family Routine: Final Thoughts
In conclusion, creating a flexible routine that works for your family requires a blend of structure and adaptability. By establishing predictable patterns while allowing room for spontaneity, you can navigate the challenges of motherhood with more ease and joy. Remember, the goal of a routine is to support your family’s well-being and happiness, so don’t hesitate to tweak and refine it as your children grow and your family’s needs evolve.
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- 5 Daily Habits for Stay At Home Moms to Help Maintain Your Sanity
- Vitaclean Honest Review: At Home Self Care for SAHMs
- How To Get A Break When You’re A Stay At Home Mom
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