Routines

Consistency. Flow. Chore Chart. Do This, Then That. Reward. Organization. List.

• Daily Routine: It is important that children have a day that they can predict. This means having the big events in the day, like meals, learning and free time, happen at the same time each day.

• Chore Charts: Chore Charts are visual ways for kids to accomplish what they need to do for the day, like a grocery list. Chores included on the chart can also include personal hygiene and self-monitoring, this is when the child has to make sure that they have done everything on the list before coming to you to have it checked. Online learning can be put into a Chore Chart to increase motivation and engagement.

• First, Then: First, Then is like the old saying "work before play." Children perform better when they do the activity they find less rewarding first, then they do what they want to do. For example, a child must finish the math homework for the day first and then have a break and do something fun.

• Build in Opportunities for Choice: When possible, allow the child to select the order of academic work to complete at home. And set up choices for break activities that the child enjoys.

• Step 1: Identify important daily activities and decide in which order they should happen.

• Step 2: Identify key times of the day when the activities should occur and make sure the routine works for the whole family. It may be easiest to first start with meals, learning times and bedtime routines.

• Step 3: All family members should try to follow the routine and follow family rules. Provide reminders and support to children when preparing for transitions. Make sure to be consistent day to day and enforce rules for all children in the home.

If you’re tired or stressed, it may be difficult for you to follow the routine or enforce the rules, but try to stick with it as much as possible.

Steps to Take:

• Step 1: Think of the expectations you would like to track on your chart. It could be only chores the child is responsible for or it could include other tasks for them to complete.

• Step 2: Make the chart by listing the expectations by day. For example, Monday- brush teeth, make bed, attend virtual learning, clean room, shower, read before bed. It can be very simple or more elaborate.

• Step 3: Praise or offer other rewards when the child completes their list. Use reminders if necessary.

Steps to Take:

• Step 1: Think through what the child can do and what they should work toward. Create a goal for the child that is specific and can be seen. An example could be completing homework for the day before 4pm.

• Step 2: Think through what is something that occurs in the day that the child looks forward to doing. An example might be outside time or screen time.

• Step 3: Encourage the child to work toward the goal by saying once they are done with the goal, they can do the fun activity.

Example:

"First, finish your Lexia minutes. Then, you can go outside to play."

• Give choices by listing two options for a child to choose from. It is best to give two options that have similar outcomes. For example, "would you like to draw or read?" Either choice the child picks is a good choice.

• Do not give choices for options that are unacceptable for adults. For example, do not ask "do you want to take a nap or stay up?"