Get up at 7am? Check. Brush teeth at 7.05 am? Check. Get to school for 8.30am? Check. Bedtime wind-down at 7pm? Check.
Routines are easy to fall into when you have a traditional day to day life and can help everyone manage expectations. However, what happens when they get disturbed? This can be very disruptive, especially for people with ASD.
There are many benefits to having a routine in place for both adults and children, and this piece is going to take a look at some of the reasons why you should teach them.
Let’s get into it.
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Table of Contents
Routines Offer Security and Stability
One of the most useful and comforting aspects of having a routine is that it provides a sense of security, stability, and structure.
Feeling secure is important for childhood development, as they are able to predict what is coming next. This can offer comfort and also minimize feelings of fear of the unknown, which can be stressful and disruptive.
Emotional Regulation
It can be hard to stay on top of emotions at the best of times, but when you are a child with limited autonomy, a routine can really help manage emotions and regulate them in advance for whatever is coming up next. Teaching them routine can help them determine when it is time to focus, relax, or play, which can help prevent mood swings or, in certain situations, meltdowns.
Remember – A meltdown does not always mean your child is being ‘naughty.’ It can be a representation of feeling overwhelmed. Work with them; don’t punish them.
Transition Management
Routine can work for day to day life, but it can also prepare children for the more acute changes such as having the holidays and then going back to school. For some children, this can be a significant change, especially if they are heading into a new school or are having new teachers and classes.
Teaching kids routine can help them get back into the swing of things more quickly and with less distress.
When Routine Means Safety
What do you do before you cross the street? You look both ways. This is a routine that is embedded into a child’s brain as soon as they are able to walk, along with other safety routines, such as not approaching a stranger or knowing how to get hold of parents if they need them.
These routines become second nature, and your muscle memory takes over to keep them in check – this is essential for safety or when children are in a situation where it is more difficult to think about what the right thing to do is.
Consistency in Learning
When you focus on something consistently in a routine, you are more likely to remember it and absorb the information. This is yet another reason why you should teach routine to your children – especially for school.
It can be much easier to retain something that is repeated and expected over sporadic information, and having a routine can also help tell the brain when it is time to learn and focus!
