Wake up, check phone, shower, get dressed, wake up child, eat breakfast… Sound familiar? This is pretty much my morning routine during the week. It is not exciting and sometimes the timings alter (depending on how tired I am) but generally it remains the same and prepares me, and my family, for the day ahead. We all have different routines to help us navigate our day. We even have routines within routines! However, not all routines are effective, and this can impact on the success of completing a task, time keeping and controlling emotions. Does this sound familiar to what you see in provision? Routines play a crucial role in not only maintaining structure to the day but also in supporting child development.
Firstly, it is important to remember that a routine is different to a timetable, although some parts of our routine are dictated by time, such as mealtimes, access to other rooms/spaces and collection times. Routines are more fluid in nature and can sometimes be referred to as the rhythm of the day. This involves creating a consistent yet flexible framework for your day, helping you manage tasks, transitions, and downtime effectively.
What are the benefits of effective routines?
Sense of security
Predictable routines help children feel safe and secure. Knowing what to expect reduces anxiety and stress, making them feel more in control of their environment.
Emotional regulation
Regular routines help children develop self-regulation skills, which are essential for managing their emotions and behaviours. This stability allows them to face daily challenges with resilience and confidence.
Independence and responsibility
Following a daily schedule teaches children to complete tasks on their own, such as choosing, using and returning resources or locating and collecting belongings. This builds confidence and prepares them for future responsibilities.
Time management skills
Understanding time and schedules helps children prioritise daily tasks, manage transitions smoothly, and balance play, learning, and rest.
What makes an effective routine?
Consistency is key! All children like to know what is happening in their day, therefore establishing consistent routines through a carefully planned provision will be beneficial to everyone.
Visual aids
The power of visual aids should never be underestimated. Sometimes, as adults we can appear to ‘go through the motions’ of using visual sequences, instructions or prompts but it is important that we continue to draw children’s attention to them frequently, especially when there is a change in routine. On many occasions, children have approached me, as an adult in the provision, to find out what is happening next and I always ask, “How can we find out?” Most of the time, I will be led to the visual timetable which has varying levels of success depending on how much value the practitioners have placed on implementing them. Some children will require extensive visual aids to enable them to access the curriculum but remember that all children will benefit from them - as long as they are used consistently and by all adults within the provision.
Makes sense
Ensuring that that routines make sense is important. This requires careful consideration about the types of activities on offer. For example, if you have a timeslot to use a space for physical development followed by an adult led writing activity, you might find that this is very adult intensive and can be overwhelming for children in the early years. This can also be very onerous for the adults in the provision who are likely to be trying to set up activities whilst supporting children with transition points. Ensuring there is a balance and flow to routines will enable everyone within the provision an opportunity to process what is happening now and provides an awareness of what is coming next.
Routines within routines
When you break down aspects of the day you will find that other little routines appear, usually out of necessity. These routines often appear naturally and are impacted by the layout of the environment. For example, you are unlikely to be able to fit ten or more children in cloakroom areas, so you manage this by filtering children off in smaller groups. Consider the expectations that you set throughout the day for completing tasks such as collecting belongings. You also cannot be everywhere at once and by providing simple, memorable instructions children will be able to develop their independence skills. Using short rhymes such as “Coat, Bag, Bottle” sung in a rhythmic way can be enough to remind children to collect these items. Mnemonics or visual aids to enhance these incidental routines can also be very helpful.
Evolves
As the year progresses, just as with your learning environment, the routines will evolve to meet the changing needs of your cohorts. Reflecting on parts of your routine that no longer feel necessary and looking at where time is being maximised to support learning and development is crucial. “This is the way we always do it” is one of the most dangerous phrases that can be heard within schools and settings. We have to be openminded to change and reflective about all aspects of our practice. The children in front of you today will change so it should not be surprising that routines will need to change too.
Overall, routines provide the structure and consistency that children need to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Do you have any specific routines in mind that you'd like to establish or improve for your cohort? If this is something you have identified as an area of development for your provision, please contact us for details about consultancy from our early year advisers and consultants earlyyearsteam@hfleducation.org.
Jennifer Ferguson
