Parenthood and Sanity

Having 5 kids, I know the pain which comes from having wandering little souls all over the house at 10 or 11 p.m in the evening. If it wasn't for my Mother having me in an easy day to day routine when I was a child I think I'd be either childless or crazy by now. It is very important to keep your children on a pretty tight rein as far as scheduling goes. I don't mean like a military boot camp, but with the usual daily chores, mealtimes and bedtime. Kids benefit at school, from having a set routine at home. Their concentration will be better since they sleep more soundly and eat a well balanced diet. It's all about expectation. If your kids are in the habit of sitting down and having a pleasurable experience at dinner, even though there is a plate full of green vegetables in front of them, they associate that with happy content thoughts. It makes perfect sense that only good can come of this
Here is how it worked for us.

Breakfast Time:

Breakfast time is the first key to setting a workable schedule for your kids. They will be more attentive and have a better concentration span if he or she has eaten a healthy breakfast. If schools serve breakfast where your child attends, examine the menu closely as some of the choices are questionable from a nutritional point of view. Personally, I cringe at the thought of anyone's child eating so called "breakfast pizza". A tub of yogurt or bowl of healthy cereal without multi colored candies can be a great breakfast to chat over while still allowing your child time to check his backpack for items he needs to remember. Running out the door not having eaten yet, and being in a rush is not a great start to anyone's day.

After School:

Once our kids were home from school it was most important to first have them feed the family pets. This teaches them lots of life lessons. Pets should always be put before oneself since they are completely dependent upon us. It teaches children love, respect for others and how grow up to be a selfless adult. Having done that, it was snack time, followed by homework. Homework was followed by some fun time, and then any little chores which may have needed to be done to help Mum or Dad around the home or yard. After meal times was for for TV, boardgames, or family chit chat. I always encouraged the kids to talk freely over dinner, unlike the old times when it was not the done thing to hear from children at dinner. This was the only time we were all together during the week.

After Dinner:

When bath time was done and a family favorite on TV was over, the kids would be guaranteed to wander off to bed happily without prompting. We always watched the same program right before their bedtime, this way when the closing music began to play they associated it with bedtime and automatically went to use the restroom, cleaned their teeth and kissed us goodnight. You will also find that getting your baby into a routine from day one, will allow you to sleep rather than wander the corridors of an emotional nightmare all night wondering what you did wrong.

TV doesn't need to be an enemy at bedtime. Of course do whatever you're doing if it is working, but kids really do crave routine and it helps them to get done what needs to be done, without it feeling like a chore.