When global changes occur in the world, children cannot help but feel how nervous adults are and stop feeling safe. This has a negative impact on their psyche and development. Therefore, the task of parents is to try to maintain a sense of stability and predictability in children’s lives, no matter what happens. Routine, that is, maintaining a familiar daily rhythm and schedule, helps with this.
Here are some “cornerstones” of routine that will help children feel calm and safe.
Wake up your child at the same time in the same usual way (for example, with kisses). Then everything should go as usual: brushing teeth, washing, dressing, combing hair, breakfast, getting ready for kindergarten or school. Try not to deviate from the routine even a step, this gives a feeling of reliability and confidence.
Household duties
Whatever happens, no one has cancelled cleanliness and order in the house. Therefore, let the children continue to perform their assigned duties around the house, this is also an element of routine that gives a sense of stability.
Mugs
If a child attends a sports section, dance studio, drawing club, etc., let him continue to do so. Nothing keeps the psyche normal and gives such a sense of confidence as a familiar life schedule.
Family dinner
Although it is not easy, once a day, preferably at the same time, the whole family should be at the table. This is not just dinner, but a time when parents and children can talk, discuss something, tell about how the day went, laugh. Such daily communication with adults will give children a point of support in a changing world.
Evening
Evening rituals associated with putting to bed and going to sleep are especially important: this is the best time to let the child feel that his familiar world has not collapsed. Reading a book, lying next to him, hugging – all this tells the child that everything is fine, he is loved and nothing threatens him.