How does routine play a role in child development? If you haven’t given this much thought, you should. Families with a routine are more likely to be organized and function together to accomplish goals or have fun. Routines establish expectations of what should be done and how often. Children are members of a family that thrive off of structure and consistency. Routines are good for children for several reasons.
Why Is Routine So Important for Children?
Daily routines are different for every household, but there is a consensus on their benefits. Here are some benefits of a daily routine.
It helps children get on a schedule. A consistent routine allows children to develop positive behaviors, like having a more consistent sleeping schedule and better behavior at school.
More bonding with family. Children with a routine understand what is expected of them and are more likely to create better relationships with their families.
Creates expectations. Children with routines understand that there are rules in the house, and there will not be a power struggle with the parents.
It creates more confidence and independence. Your children will not have to rely on you for activities like brushing their teeth or putting pajamas on. Children have greater pride in not having to rely on you for help all the time.
Form healthy habits. Children on a routine will create good grooming habits and wisely manage their time. They will also develop self-discipline as they get older. Routines also help reduce stress and prevent your child from getting sick as often.
Routines can also be fun. Don’t always think of routines centered around chores that you need to do around the house. For example, Saturdays might be your day to take your children to the park or go out for ice cream.
Ideas for Making a Quality Daily Routine
Good daily routines are ones that effectively suit your family. Generally, they have three components. They include:
Well planned. The daily routine needs to be well-thought-out and discussed with your family. Each person should understand the role they play.
Consistent. Routines need to be done every day in order for them to be effective. For example, your children might know that they have to get their backpacks ready for school on Sunday nights.
Predictable. Routines also need to follow the same steps each time. For example, your children might know that they need to set the dinner table each night.
You’ll need to adapt the routine depending on your child’s age, but all routines have the same components. So start using a routine to take advantage of all the benefits it has to offer.
Caring for children is never easy. Each decision that you make affects your child and also your own mental state. Ensuring you are making the right choices when choosing between child centers vs home daycare can make all the difference.
Benefits of Sending Your Child to a Licensed Daycare vs Home Daycare
Of course, the best care does vary from child to child. Some kids do better in a social setting, like child care, while others do best at home. The key is to find what works best for your child. Sending your child to a child care center has tons of great benefits, both for you and the child.
First, licensed child care centers have the tools to keep your children safe. They have trained professionals that are able to provide care if your child is hurt, they know the Heimlich maneuver if your child chokes, and they can look out for the health of your child.
Another benefit is that they have enrichment items that will help your child flourish and help them do well. It also prepares them for school, helps them get used to being away from you for the day, and helps with social skills. It is important with small children that you do take the time to provide them with the chance to be social and to build their social skills, and daycare does just that.
If you have someone you really trust like a relative who can take care of your child at home, that may be better for you. If you are looking for an experience that will be as close to your child going to school as possible, daycare is a better option.
Choosing the Right Center
The first thing to do when choosing a child care center is to make sure that they will be able to take care of your child adequately. You want to choose a center that has enough staff, that perhaps has a special room that will fit your child’s needs, and a center that will enrich your child.
It is important that you visit the center before you put your children in their care. You should take the time to look at all the options that are out there and make sure you are choosing a center that is going to be a great fit for both you and your child.
How should I introduce my child to their new sibling?
This is one of the most common questions parents have when expecting another baby. It gets easier when there are already siblings in the family, but it can be a bit trickier if there’s been an only child to take care of so far.
Consider yourself in the shoes of an only child. You’ve been the center of attention for your entire life. You have your parents, grandparents, and other relatives wrapped around your adorable fingers and at your every beck and call. You start to think you’re the center of the universe, and how could you not?
And then, one day, everything changes. You’re no longer an only child. There is another baby–a new baby–on the way. Where does that leave you then? It’s not too far-fetched that an only child would think and feel this way. That is why you really should be careful and gentle when introducing your toddler to a new sibling.
Here are a few simple tips that can help you break the ice between the new siblings.
Include, Don’t Replace
When you come into the house holding a new baby in your arms, your toddler can only understand the visual of it as you have another baby in your arms. That should have been their place, but it no longer is.
It might be better to take on a neutral position to soften the blow, such as carrying the baby in a bassinet or stroller. This way, the new baby is immediately accessible to them because it is closer to their height and not up there with you in a position of authority, right in your arms.
Let your toddler come closer on their own time. Do not force them, because they are dealing with emotions that may be too big and complex for them to process. Be encouraging, not insistent.
Don’t Switch to Big Kid Language Immediately
It would be good to let them know clearly their role in the new baby’s life, that they are their new big brother or sister. However, it is still important to reassure them that although that may be the case, they will still remain to be your baby as well.
Their upgrade in role only applies to their relationship with the baby for now. So don’t be in a hurry to drop the sweet baby speak with them, so they don’t feel rejected or discarded.
Let them Warm Up to Each Other Gently
Express it clearly that you are happy with both of them around, and how much of a big help your toddler would be to you if he “takes care” of the baby too. This keeps them feeling involved and a part of your everyday routine.
Let them warm up to each other gently. Remind your toddler of how important they are to the baby, and how much fun it would be when they can start playing together soon.
With gentle nudging and constant reassurance that they are not being displaced or replaced in the family, your toddler can soon be the doting older sibling you want for your baby.
As an expecting parent, you will want to offer your newborn child the most nutritious and healthy meals. You might be going back and forth about using breastfeeding or formula to feed your baby. These are some of the pluses and negatives of both types of feeding:
The Pros and Cons of Bottle Feeding
Bottle feeding may be much more convenient than breastfeeding. It allows parents to easily put the premixed formula into bottles and feed their baby. Therefore, it may be an excellent solution for mothers who have to go back and forth to work and don’t have time to sit and breastfeed.
The formula is premade with all the essential nutrients every baby needs. However, it’s harder for a newborn to digest than breast milk. Some babies have digestive issues when on the bottle, and they need a special formula that’s gentler on their system.
The Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the number one choice for health and wellness. A mother’s breast milk contains special nutrients to strengthen the baby’s immune system. Many mothers choose to breastfeed their children for that reason alone. Breastfeeding also strengthens the bond between a mother and her child. Babies feel safe and protected when resting in their mother’s arms, eating the food that will help them grow.
That said, breastfeeding has a few drawbacks to it. For one, it’s time-consuming. You won’t be able to ask someone else to feed the baby for you unless you squeeze your breast milk into bottles early in the day. You also may not be able to breastfeed your baby in all public locations. You’ll have restrictions on what you can consume. Thus, you may not be able to take the medication you want to take because of the probability of it passing to the baby because of your milk.
Though feeding your baby breast milk has a few down points, it’s still the best choice when solely focusing on the health aspect.
Is It Better To Feed a Baby Breast Milk or Formula?
The style you choose depends on your health, scheduling, and goals for your baby. Natural breastfeeding is always the best choice for the baby’s health because of its benefits to the immune system. However, formula may be a better option if you’re suffering from any condition requiring taking medicine that may pass to your child. The formula may also be the best option if you have a vitamin D deficiency because it’s premade with the most vital nutrients.
Your lifestyle will determine whether you choose breast milk or formula as well. For example, buying premade formula may be the more favorable option if you work long hours and need a babysitter to care for your child. You could bottle your breast milk beforehand, but buying premade formula may be more convenient.
Now you can make a highly informed choice about which method to feed your baby. Take your time and choose the most beneficial method for both of you.
An old saying goes, “It is easier to learn than to relearn.” That generally means that once someone learns a particular way of doing something, it can be harder for that person to learn another way to do it. That generally is true of language communications.
Learning a second language at an early age is relatively easy for most children. After all, they are just learning to talk for the very first time. Most people continue learning to speak a language for many years as they learn more about a particular language.
Physical Development Could Affect the Ability to Speak Another Language
Learning a second language at an early age means learning how to physically pronounce words as well as attach meaning to them. When a child learns one language, it is much easier to learn a second language. That is because the child is still developing the ability to communicate through speech and eventually through writing. Learning a second language is much easier for a child than for an adult.
An adult who has been speaking the same language for decades could have a harder time pronouncing certain sounds in another language. Because the adult has learned to speak in a certain physical manner to correctly pronounce words in one language, the adult generally faces more difficulty learning how to speak a second language decades after mastering the first.
Cognitive Benefits of Learning a Second Language
The many benefits of learning a second language include better grades in school and greater confidence when interacting with other people. Children who learn two languages have the ability to become truly bilingual. That helps them confidently communicate with others in either language and reach a broader audience.
Bilingual students who take their studies seriously also have an advantage when applying for acceptance at a college. Many colleges and universities value bilingual students and are eager to accept those with strong academic records from high school.
More Employment Opportunities
Being bilingual gives adults a strong advantage in the job market. Many professions greatly value bilingual workers. Some employers search for those who can speak and write in particular languages in addition to English or Spanish. The fewer languages barriers, the wider the potential audience with whom a person could communicate effectively.
Speaking two or more languages makes many employees especially valuable and can create greater work opportunities. It also enables some workers to obtain jobs that require travel to nations that speak particular languages. The ability to travel the world and still communicate effectively in more than one language is a true asset.
