Routine is an essential part of any child’s life and development. Children generally thrive on routine and schedules, so it is crucial to ensure that they follow a healthy daily routine.
As a parent or nanny in Sydney, you can help the child under your care maintain and follow a healthy daily routine. This will ensure that the child feels secure and stable in their environment.
Routine is crucial to creating a more organised and calm day for your child and profoundly shaping their overall development. Good routines ensure that your child feels a sense of security, support their emotional regulation and help to foster good habits that will last them throughout the rest of their lives.
However, setting up a routine and getting a child to follow it is not only about creating and following a schedule. Building a healthy routine nurtures every aspect of a child’s development and must entail careful planning and some adaptation.
Parents and nannies must discuss the importance of healthy routines and how they affect children to understand their needs. Furthermore, there are some guidelines and practical tips to help you find the best routine for your child that you can follow alongside your trusted nanny.
Why Healthy Routines Are Good for Children and Why the Nanny Must Be Able to Implement It
Whether you are a parent or nanny in Sydney caring for children, one of the most powerful tools you have available is having a structured, healthy daily routine for them. A routine that the child follows allows them to feel secure in their environment and keeps them occupied with constructive activities that will further their development.
A professional nanny with knowledge of early childhood education and development knows the importance of structure and routine in a child’s life. They know that children thrive on routine, which diminishes uncertainty and builds confidence while teaching the child responsibility.
A healthy routine for taking care of your child has many benefits and a lasting impact on them. However, parents and nannies must be consistent with routine and schedules for their children.
The child may initially struggle, giving you room for adaptation. Remember that the routine must follow an age-appropriate and achievable structure, catering to your child’s unique needs.
Here is a quick example of a healthy routine for children:
Morning routine
- Getting dressed.
- Making your bed (for older children)
- Eating Breakfast.
- Brushing Teeth.
- Getting your things for school.
Afternoon Routine
- Eating Lunch
- Playing
- Doing Homework
- Interactive play or Independent play
Night Time Routine
- Bathing
- Eating supper
- Getting ready for bed, brushing teeth.
Ultimately, a structured routine lets your child know what to expect every day and have some responsibilities. This makes them feel more in control of their world and helps to build their confidence. It lays a strong foundation for good self-esteem and better social skills for your child.
6 Methods Parents and Nannies Can Use to Create Healthy Routines for Kids
Creating a healthy routine for your child takes time, focus and effort. It will not happen overnight, so brace yourself.
The parents and the nanny need to work together to create, implement and maintain a healthy routine for the children so that everyone can learn to be on the same page.
Your nanny in Sydney can advise you on routines that may work, and you can start from there. A few guidelines can help you create and implement an effective healthy routine for your child.
Remember that every family is unique, so some adaptations are necessary. If your child cannot manage the routine at first, you may need to change it a bit.
1. Keep it Consistent and Predictable
The first and most crucial step in creating and maintaining a healthy routine for your child is to ensure consistency. Continuously changing their routine can confuse them and make them feel insecure.
Children thrive on predictability, so you must follow the same structure and timeline daily to reduce stress on your child and yourself. Consistency allows a child to feel that they have more control over their environment, which gives them some independence.
As a nanny in Sydney, it is vital to ensure that you provide the child with proper guidance and leadership by setting a good example yourself.
2. Incorporate Physical Activities
Parents and even nannies often forget to incorporate physical activity into a child’s routine. Daily physical activity is vital for children, especially younger children, to ensure optimal muscle formation, growth and physical development.
On the other hand, children have plenty of energy, and such built-up energy could result in negative behaviour such as throwing tantrums or being unable to concentrate. Therefore, children need exercise and physical play to burn up some energy and release negative feelings and frustration.
Encourage them to play outdoors, in the park, or even participate in school sports. Indoor activities, such as dancing to their favorite music, are also excellent ideas. Nannies and parents must set aside some time every day, even a few minutes, to engage their children in physical activity.
3. Promote Their Mental Health with Some Quiet Time
Quiet time is essential for adults and children to relax and reflect. A healthy routine includes quiet time for a child to read a book, listen to music, or do a quiet activity like colouring.
Relaxation is as important as physical exercise for children as it helps them process their emotions, reduces stress and fosters calmness, especially at the end of a long day. For parents and nannies, it offers time to get ahead of chores while the child is relaxed and engaged.
4. Create a Routine for Healthy Sleep Habits
The foundation of any healthy routine for children is their sleep routine. Creating healthy sleep habits is essential to ensuring that children get enough sleep. Younger children need a consistent bedtime and adequate sleep to ensure they are healthy and develop properly.
Often, children are at their most energetic just before bedtime, fighting sleep and tiredness. They are not always willing to go to bed. However, you can encourage the child to participate in more calming activities before bed, such as reading or listening to calming music.
A warm bath also helps to calm the child and signals that bedtime is approaching. Enjoying quiet time with a parent or nanny just before bed will help the child fall asleep and enjoy a restful, calming night’s rest.
Nannies in Sydney and parents alike should prioritise a good night’s sleep, which is vital for a child’s growth, cognitive development and mood regulation.
5. Balance Free Time with Activity
While children need a structured routine with set out activities, they need free time to play and explore. Free time allows your child to use their imagination and develop social skills. Furthermore, free time teaches them to manage and structure their time while enjoying creative activities and playing.
However, you must balance free time with structured time by including some planned activities, such as chores, educational activities and schoolwork. A good balance ensures that the child has something to look forward to and helps to curb boredom.
6. Involving Children in Their Routine
Lastly, one of the most effective ways to ensure that your child sticks to their healthy routine is to include them in the planning process. Your nanny in Sydney can help you create a routine for your child, and you can discuss the routine with your child, including some of their input.
Encouraging your children to take ownership of their routine will give them a sense of responsibility and pride. You can easily involve them in choosing a few activities, deciding when they want their breaks, or even allowing them to select the tasks they wish to complete.
Doing this, you help promote the child’s decision-making skills and create a sense of autonomy, which is essential for their development.
Nurture Stability and Growth Through Structured Routines
You nurture a child’s growth, development and overall well-being by establishing and maintaining a healthy routine tailored to your child’s age-appropriate needs.
Routine remains a powerful tool for teaching children valuable life skills such as time management, responsibility and discipline, which contribute directly to their emotional, cognitive and physical development and growth.
A professional Nanny in Sydney is a valuable ally who can help you teach your child a healthy daily routine. This routine will create a sense of stability and confidence in your child and teach them essential life skills later on.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Healthy Routines
As a final thought, creating and maintaining a healthy routine for your child is essential for their well-being and development. It helps them feel safe and secure, promoting discipline and a sense of responsibility in children. On the other hand, a fun routine helps your child stay busy more constructively while learning and getting vital tasks done.
Whether you are a nanny in Sydney or a parent trying to create order in your chaotic everyday life with children, a well-structured routine is the best solution.
Even more so, children thrive on routine and discipline, which makes them feel stable, secure and confident in their environment. You are ideally encouraging your child’s independence through an achievable routine that they consistently take part in.
Remember to keep your daily routine consistent and achievable for the child, catering to their age group and unique needs.
