The role of rituals and routines in young children

The introduction of rituals and routines at home before a child starts formal schooling can play a big role in helping a child adapt to the school environment. This is the advice offered in the second episode of the Learning Early Series, an online video series for parents who are about to embark on that next big step in parenting: being the parent of a school-going child!

Teachers at Early Learning Centres or primary schools use rituals and routines extensively as these induce calmness, relieve anxiety and offer structure to the day. Parents can learn a lot from teachers and the way they communicate and engage with children through routines. This episode explains some of these rituals.

The video can be viewed here:

137 Comments

- - downunderr said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    5:18 pm
i love this series i await every new episode

- - pinkpeony said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    4:31 pm
Excellent tips thanks

- - earthlydelites said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    3:41 pm
I’m a big believer in routine and rituals, it keeps things stable and they know what to expect!

- - lynzstevo said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    3:24 pm
I think it’s good to start a routine from an early age. Definitely keeps the household in line and minimizes chaos!

- - torien said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    2:11 pm
I find a strong routine stops chaos. I am flexible on the odd occasion but find we are all happiest when we know what we are doing!

- - teetee said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    11:13 am
Thank you for the tips.

- - snoopy said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    8:10 am
We’ve always had some sort of routine amongst the children, but I think it’s also important to have some flexibility with it as we are not wanting to run an army camp any time soon.

- - rachkap said
  - 07 Jul 2013
    1:47 am
I’m a strong believer that it’s good for everyone to have some sort of routine.

- - ally.31211 said
  - 06 Jul 2013
    9:23 pm
My Kids have been in a set routine since they were little babies I don’t know how people function without one

- - jenny9761 said
  - 06 Jul 2013
    6:58 pm
We have routines through out the day , but the most important one is before bedtime. I found it is a lot easier ti get the kids to bed if we follow a routine.

- - sarbear73 said
  - 06 Jul 2013
    4:10 pm
My kids have had routines since birth and I think it makes a big difference,even as older kids they continue it themselves and it makes for happier,healthier kids.

- - maureen3 said
  - 06 Jul 2013
    4:01 pm
Thanks for sharing great tips

- - haldem337 said
  - 06 Jul 2013
    12:59 pm
Our kids have been in routines since birth. If we do something different they are very quick to notice it. I thought that was a bad thing until lately.

- - jaimilayt said
  - 06 Jul 2013
    9:41 am
Thank you! What a great article 🙂

- - tanya goulding said
  - 05 Jul 2013
    11:25 pm
Definetly helps having routine, it does help the kids get through their big day at school

- - meltingmoment said
  - 05 Jul 2013
    10:55 pm
We have a good morning routine. Afternoons are a different thing.

- - stakky32 said
  - 05 Jul 2013
    9:36 pm
We love our routines and rituals here, even when we go on holiday we try to keep up the routine as much as possible!

- - ritatoni said
  - 05 Jul 2013
    4:50 pm
My son loves routine and it is easier for me to manage day to day tasks.

- - stay at home mum said
  - 05 Jul 2013
    4:17 pm
I am a huge supporter of routine. It helps the kids as well as me to keep on track and not feel exhausted at the end of the week.

- - sapshu936 said
  - 05 Jul 2013
    4:12 pm
With regular routine I feel more organised with kids.