Part and parcel of raising a child is the drive and desire, not to mention the necessity, of ensuring that they become as dedicated to looking after their own physical health and emotional well-being as you are as a parent.
With this in mind, continue reading to discover a simple, helpful guide to establishing a morning and bedtime routine for your child.
Let Your Child Lead the Way
As in any other area of your child’s upbringing, you are always going to have more success implementing a new rule or routine when they themselves feel as if it is their idea and they are in control.
If, when they first wake up, they automatically trot off to find the family dog, make this the first thing you include in their new morning routine; encourage them to feed the dog while they are playing with it and fill the water bowl.
Prioritize the Most Important Jobs!
Even though it will be exceedingly helpful if your children include tidying up their toys and games before they go to bed, the truth is that as long as you ensure they are doing the most important tasks each morning and night, then you cannot go far wrong.
Make an appointment with reputable family dentists, such as bafdentistry.com, and have them see your child to assess the current, natural state of their teeth and mouth, and speak to the professionals about how best to inspire good oral hygiene in your child. Additionally, make sure that your children understand the supreme importance of thoroughly washing their hands before eating.
Be Aware of Instability in Their Current Routine
There is no way you can establish a mutually beneficial morning and evening routine for your children, and as a byproduct, you and your partner, too, without first identifying any issues with the current way you run your household on a daily basis.
The most common causes of instability, which can affect their emotional state of mind as well as, in some cases, their physical health, include:
- Changes to their school or moving to a different one
- Parental or guardian changes
- An impending move to another home
- A death or illness in the family
Make Bedtime a Proper Close to the Day
When it comes to taking your child upstairs and tucking them into their bed, it is entirely understandable that, after a long day being a parent and all the other chores and professional duties you have had to complete, all you want to do is get back downstairs with the television and a glass of wine.
However, if you take the time now to spend at least five minutes with your child once they have gotten into bed, either reading them a story or simply cuddling them to sleep, then they will feel as if their routine has ended on a high note and are more likely to follow the rules the day after.