Children Need Positive Predictability
Research has proven that children’s brains are chemically altered when they experience change in their routine. The less predictable their day is, the less content the children are and the less they are able to cope with change comfortably as they grow older.
This was probably the best advice my doctor gave me after the twins were born. Keeping a schedule and sticking to it, no matter what!
There were times I’d have to leave picnic’s or various other activities early in order to make sure my twins were home and in bed for their precise nap time - bed time or other set scheduled times we had in our house.
There were plenty of people who though I was insane for keeping such a rigid schedule and found me a bit uncooperative - I became the topic of ridicule several times over, all the behind-the-back talk was worth it when at the age of 4 my boys would tell me they wanted to go to bed now between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m.
To this day, my kids maintain this schedule, not because I enforce it, but because they like it that way. Now that I know their schedule so well, I can have my own.
Coming through a divorce from the boys father such as I did, I would have thought they would have some emotional issues or difficulties to some degree, but you know, they are two of the most grounded boys I know. There are many days that I feel so fortunate - especially when other parents compliment me on how well behaved and mannerly the boys are.
Now, there is one downfall to this schedule that the boys have chosen to keep into their teen years - that is, when they have friends spend the night, they typically go to bed early and well, that doesn’t usually sit well with their friends.
Is that such a bad thing? I think not.
Tags: change, comfort, kids, Parenting, schedule, structureRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Parenting
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