Skip to main content

Why kids need routines and how you’re hurting your children by not enforcing them

Routines help kids and adults rock the day - find out how

Do you start off the day with a cup of coffee? Do you have a favorite radio station on for the drive to work? This is the same as kids not being able to fall asleep without a bedtime story. Most people and children have some type of routine to get their day going. Routines are actually an essential part of everyone’s day. Did you ever notice that when something messes with those routines, it’s easy to feel out of sorts and anxious?

According to Ramon Solhkhah, M.D. with the Department of Psychiatry at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, routines “are an important component of good mental health.” Routines create a structure for the day. As adults, we prioritize our routines to ensure all the necessities get done.

Sticking to a routine like going to the gym provides a sense of accomplishment. It turns out routines are just as important for children as they are for adults. Establishing routines for kids when they’re young and continuing them throughout the years is a vital component of their development.

Brushing a toddler's hair
Mladen Mitrinovictt / Shutterstock

Why routines for kids are important

Have you ever noticed that when the day isn’t running as usual, the kids tend to act up? The reason is that routines are a crucial part of a child’s day. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids function better with a regular household routine that provides consistency. Daily routines create stability and structure while working toward making kids feel safe. Routines also reduce anxiety in kids and adults while teaching children important life skills to help set them on a path to a healthy lifestyle.

Kids brushing their teeth
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What routines teach children

Healthy habits

Most people have a routine that helps get them out of the house in the morning to work and to power down at night to go to sleep. Part of those morning and bedtime routines include healthy habits like brushing teeth, showering, washing hands, and brushing hair. By instilling routines in kids, parents are teaching them important healthy habits as well. Brushing teeth after breakfast and before bed is a routine to help take care of teeth and gums. Parents who incorporate a regular time to exercise every day are putting kids on the road to making healthy lifestyle choices later in life.

Responsibility

A part of everyone’s daily routine is typically chores. Doing laundry, making the bed, walking the dog and preparing lunches for school are all examples of chores parents do every day. Chores are usually a part of the day for children and teens, too. Having chores to complete teaches children vital life skills like making a bed, but also instills in them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

Completing homework feels like a chore to most kids and teens, but setting aside a regular time for kids to get their homework done is critical. Kids may not appreciate it, but concrete homework time provides the stability they need to concentrate on assignments and study productively. A structured homework time often translates into better grades because kids aren’t rushing to complete an assignment at the last minute or preparing for a test on the fly.

Time management

As kids get older, their days become busier with school, sports, and other activities. Having a daily routine provides structure and also teaches children and teens time management. Time management skills are essential, especially as kids climb the educational ladder. Teens with good time management skills typically do better in and out of the classroom and can adapt to the challenges of college easier, especially when far away from home.

Body clock

Ever notice how you automatically wake up at the same time every day, even on the weekend? That’s because having a regular wake-up and bedtime is a routine. Regular sleep and wake times set the body’s internal clock. A regular bedtime is especially important for children and having a structured routine is a big part of helping kids fall asleep.

According to the Sleep Foundation, a regular bedtime routine leads to quality sleep, which translates to better cognitive skills. Kids without a regular bedtime routine are more likely to have sleep issues and weight problems as tweens and teens.

Toddler sleeping with a stuffed animal
Irina Wilhauk / Shutterstock

Final thoughts on routines

People really are creatures of habit and having a regular routine provides structure and stability. The same is true for kids. Having routines for children teaches them lifestyle skills, healthy habits, time management, and more while making them feel safe and reducing anxiety. The trick, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, is to balance the all-important routines with some flexibility and choice. Life happens, and it’s OK if the daily routines get thrown off from time to time. Being too rigid with routines or having none at all is problematic.

Editors' Recommendations

Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
Why toddlers throw things: What to do to stop them from breaking objects and driving you mad
Learn why toddlers throw things so you can create and maintain a safe environment for everyone
Little girl about to throw a bowl on the kitchen floor.

Kids inherently know just what to do to drive their parents crazy, and none more so than a toddler. One thing these tiny rebels do to make you question living in your own home is throwing anything they get their hands on. When babies are first born, they often can’t even figure out how to let go of an object in their hand, but toddlers don't know their own strength, and these baby Hulks love to watch items go the distance.

Throwing is easily one of the most maddening things toddlers do because it's destructive and dangerous. What’s a parent to do? We'll help you figure out why toddlers throw things and how to get them to stop.

Read more
The best party games for your sports-loving kids
These best party games score big with sports lovers
Kids running with each other at a party.

Got a sport-loving kid with a birthday coming up? Hosting a sports themed birthday party for your kiddo is a super easy way to score a touchdown. Whether you've got a kickball fanatic or a budding soccer star on your hands, choosing the birthday party theme for your sports fan is a lot easier than scoring in a shootout. There are tons of sports party games that are a slam dunk.  You don't have to stick to one sport either when choosing the activities for your little one's big day. From soccer-themed games to kickball games to an Olympic theme, there are a ton of options for all your guests whether you are hosting indoors or out. Now, let's hear the starting lineup for the best party games.
Sports party kickoff
Before we get to the best sports party games to knock it out of the park to celebrate your child's special day, let's not forget about the warmup. It's a big part of any sport as all athletes know. So, a fun way to get all the kids excited about a sports-themed birthday party is to kick it off with a warmup.

Have an adult dress up as the coach and lead the kids in some useful and silly stretches. Play upbeat music to pump them up. The theme from Rocky is a timeless choice. Then, have the coach give the partygoers tips for the games ahead before concluding with an introduction with a cheer for the birthday guy or gal.

Read more
Are your kids watching TV too much? The screen time guide every parent needs
Everything you need to know about screen time and your kids
Two siblings lying on the floor watching tv together.

By now, every parent has gotten the message that the time their kids are watching TV should be limited. Parents are inundated with messaging around screen time and how much is too much, but the reality is that kids watching TV can often give parents a much-needed break. Whether it's to get a meal ready, throw in a load of laundry, or simply enjoy a few minutes without a child asking you for something, letting your kids watch TV feels like an easy and harmless way to keep them occupied, but what amount is okay and how much is too much?
Watching TV can impact children in a few ways, and it all depends on multiple factors. For instance, are you spending time with them while they watch? How many hours per day do they spend glued to the tube? What shows do they watch? We've collected the important information so you can make the best decision about your child's television intake.

What age is too young for kids to watch TV?
According to pediatrician Dr. David Hill, MD, FAAP, "it takes around 18 months for a baby's brain to develop to the point where the symbols on a screen come to represent their equivalents in the real world." So, it's important that babies get real-life social interaction, and not stare at screens all day.

Read more