A Scheduled Life with Children

A scheduled lifestyle creates predictability and allows the following:

• Independence for children when they know what will happen next.

• Eliminating uncertainty for parents who work full-time or interested in going back to work full-time.

• Building healthy habits for children.

• Building healthy habits for adults.

A scheduled lifestyle minimizes stress and improves efficiency in all areas of life for both parents and children. Like any adult, children are more confident when daily activities are predictable and familiar. Your words and actions allow their minds and bodies to automatically respond to the schedule you set for them. Children go to school and follow a routine. The first routine should be set at home for effective learning growing kids/students.

Starting a Schedule:

• Get a calendar.

• Write down realistic goals for yourself and your family.

• Pray over your goals for yourself and your family.

• Never give up until the schedule you set is doing what's best for you and your family.

School Night Tips:

• Explain to your child what a school night is and explain to them what is not acceptable during a school night.

• Sleeping late during a school night is not acceptable. It's very important to explain to them why. Remind them "it's a school night you can't have/do XY and Z".

• Repeat each day of the week so they can understand it's a school night. " Today is Monday it is a school night". When they understand each day of the week, they will repeat to you the day and that it's a school night almost immediately!

• If they are sleeping late, wake them up earlier than normal to get them tired to create a new sleeping pattern. When they don't want to wake up explain to them why it was important for them to go to sleep on time the night before (this method works!).

• Turn off anything that would contribute to overstimulation such as TV, Tablets, laptops, video games etc.

• The only time that TV time is okay is for less than 30 minutes of learning time an hour before bed.

• In place of electronics, one hour of homework, fun hands on learning activities ( get creative) after a heavy dinner is vital to help the body shut down by active stimulation in place of electronic stimulation.

• Be confident in the schedule you set for yourself as the parent so your kids can see that you're confident. Both mom and dad MUST be on the same page for scheduling to be effective.

• Normal bedtimes are between 7:30 and 8:30.

• Having your children in bed by 8:30, gives you a couple of hours to unwind with your significant other or for self care before you get ready for bed.

I hope the tips I have shared can help get you started on your journey to more sleep, relaxation and less stress.