Sharon's Spotlight: Journey within the Routine

Happy Fall!

I hope you and your children are enjoying a wonderful school year thus far.

I would love to hear about the back to school routines you established with your children and I hope they have proven to be instrumental in creating ease in your daily life.

If however, you have found routines going by the way side or simply not effective, one missing piece to the puzzle may be in the HOW of guiding your “littles” to get things done.

One of the biggest obstacles to creating a successful routine with our children is our keen ability to become laser focused on the seemingly never-ending to-do list and wanting to check each item off.

•       Up and dressed

•       Teeth brushed

•       Lunches packed

•       out the door (on time!)

•       e-mails done

•       homework done

•       practices, lessons attended to

•       errands done

•       laundry done

•       dinner done

•       dishes done

•       bedtime done

Knowing each task has been accomplished is a parent’s goal but for kids what matters most is HOW they are reaching that goal.

As Walt Whitman so notably stated, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” 

Adding rhythm and fun into routines is a game changer. Committing to the journey of each individual task and to the journey of smiling and laughing with our children each step of the way will bring peace and calm into your daily routine while raising kids that are responsible, independent and fun to be around.

“But”, you may be wondering, “how in the world can I laugh with my kids when they do not do as I ask? Even getting them to brush their teeth is a hassle! This is not a journey any of us enjoy!”

Kids are about the process of reaching the end whereas adults are about the product.

So here is my challenge to you…

Add your own rhythm and lots of fun into your child’s routine  (and yours) but to start with, begin with one daily task.

Here is an example for all those that cringe with the daily task of getting kids to brush their teeth:

1.    Commit to making the process of brushing teeth fun! (Yes, it really is possible! )  Be creative and begin this only when you have time and energy.  Weekends are often the best time for experimenting. This will soon become habit and routine and time will not be a factor.

2.    Involve your kids! Brainstorm together in how to make the process more fun.  Many kids and parents make up games. 

3.    Give your child plenty of choices. “Do you want to brush your teeth before or after your bath, or even in the bath?” “Do you want to brush your teeth in your bathroom or my bathroom?”

4.    Get silly. Brush your teeth with your child.  Let them brush your teeth and they will be more likely to let you brush their teeth.  Blow bubbles, make silly noises, have toothpaste spitting contests- sounds gross and it may be a mess but your kids will think you are awesome!  The goofier you are the happier (and thus more cooperative!) they are.

5.    Brush teeth to music. Allow your child to choose which song they want to brush to.

6.    Allow children to choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste at the store. The more ownership they have in the overall process, the more likely they are to be cooperative. 

7.    High-five, fist bump, cheers when they are all done! 

You may be feeling there is no time for this, but just think…. You can either spend this time frustrated, angry and creating a disconnection with your child (which creates a whole other set of time consuming struggles) or you can take the time connecting with your child through laughter and fuzzy feelings (which helps to eliminate time consuming struggles).  Either way, you are spending time whether on the back end or front end.

Through committing to the enjoyment and experience of routines while removing your focus from simply checking off the to-do list, intentionally creates meaningful connections and memories with your children ultimately having the power to change lives.

Please share how you have changed up the routine with your child and the impact this has had in your home.

All my best for fun filled days of checking off that list and loads of laughter.

Sharon