Getting the Kids Involved Means Letting them Participate.
(Duh, right?)
It sounds super obvious to most parents that if you want kids to follow a daily routine, they have to help create it and then feel supported as they practice mastering the routine on their own. Well, that’s not always how things play out.
We often “let” the kids participate when it’s convenient for us or when they are doing things “right” but as soon as they fall behind, or don’t do things exactly the way we want them, we step in and muddle everything up.
Creating, executing and mastering routines takes time and while the kids are practicing, life happens. But if we can shift our thinking, if we can let the routine lead the day, we’ll find that children can take on more and more responsibility, and become less dependent on us for everything. The added benefit is that we can all enjoy that time between activities vs. rushing and hurrying things along.
What does this mean? It means, if your child is supposed to pack a backpack for school, you wont jump in and do it as the clock starts ticking louder and louder. And so, yes, you’ll be late. Yes, your kid will wear PJ’s to school. Yes, they won’t have a lunch if they don’t feel like making one. Once you learn to let go, the child will know you trust they can do it and that’s when the magic happens.
Obviously, allowing kids to go to school hungry, because they forgot their lunch, is a hard lesson to learn! Most parents think they just can’t let that happen. But the truth is we send a powerful message to our kids when we allow them to experience the obvious consequences of their decisions. Showing faith in our kids now is what supports them to grow into capable, cooperative, confident, and responsible young adults. And the best part is going hungry happens only once or twice.
Over time, once your children realize you’re going about the routine and that you trust them to manage on their own, they begin to master tasks that lead to confidence and capability. After the peaceful, relaxed and orderly routine is established, you’ll never look back!
Are you ready for a routine? The information in this section will show you how to change your family’s daily deal.
Learn more about the Parenting On Track™ Home Program and see how you can invite and create participation in your daily routines!
