Human beings and other animals need and crave structure and routines. Structure and routines help us to be more efficient, save us time and energy, and free up higher order thinking skills for more important things than planning how to execute a routine or task each time we need to do it. Structure and routines help us feel more secure. Even my cat Gus craves routine and structure. He instinctively “knows what time it is”—time for breakfast and going into his space, time for dinner and bedtime routines, and acts restless and perhaps a little confused if his human is not following “the routine”.
I once had a job that took me into many classrooms to observe students. The first thing I looked for in a classroom was a written schedule prominently displayed. It made me feel more comfortable knowing what the class was doing and what was coming next. And I am sure that having that written schedule that could be reviewed with the class, made the students feel more comfortable too. And if there was not a written schedule for the class, I spent time and energy trying to figure out what was going on and what was coming next.
Setting a structure at home and school makes for a smoother and more productive life for our students. Children and teens need extensive adult support and practice in following schedules and learning routines and procedures before they are ready to create their own schedules and plan how to tackle multi-step tasks and projects. Some parents make the mistake of having no structure at home, thinking their children need a break from the structure of school. Children feel “safer” with structure, with knowing what the expectations are, knowing how they are doing and knowing what happens if they meet the expectations, what happens if they don’t meet them, and what is coming next.
It is helpful to have a “visual schedule” and a calendar at home and school. Young children can use a picture schedule until they learn the schedule. For example, a bedtime routine schedule with pictures and words for brushing teeth, putting on PJs, reading a bedtime story, help establish independence and reduce bedtime resistance and chaos. If mornings are difficult, create a visual schedule for the morning routine.
When your child becomes a reader, create a words only schedule. Some children will need more specific steps but don’t have so many steps to complete that your child is overwhelmed before they start. Pointing at the picture or words instead of continuously reminding or nagging your child can pull you out of the exhausting verbal reminder game. It’s no longer mom or dad doing the reminding, it’s the schedule. (You can find many examples of “visual schedules” online.)
Teens can start developing their own schedules but still need help doing so. The pre-frontal cortex, which is the center of executive functioning and planning is not fully developed until the mid-late 20’s (https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/teenage-brain1.htm] Teens who gain practice in following routines and then setting routines and schedules are better prepared when they leave home to create healthy, productive structures and routines for themselves.
Even if you are a family who uses a calendar on a personal device, it is still helpful to have a print calendar that you can write on and place in a location for everyone to see. A print calendar helps make the abstract concept of time more concrete for children, makes the past and future more tangible, can serve as a focal point for keeping individual and family appointments In view, and help keep school and fun event planning in one place. When choosing a calendar, select one with enough space to write on and write in pencil as events and appointments may change.
Developing classroom and family routines and structure creates calmer, more predictable environments which help children and adults to be more efficient and feel more secure. By adding routines or planning tools such as a print calendar, daily schedule, task/chore charts, etc, or tweaking strategies that you have been using, you can help your children and students by: lessening the stress of unpredictability, introducing the concept of dealing with change when events don’t happen or dates are altered, teaching the importance of structure, and helping children and teens create their own schedules and routines.