5 Reliable Routines for Families

September means back to school and while that looks very different for many people this year, for most it means a shift in schedules and routines– increased attention on academics and increased expectations for kids.

No matter what “school” looks like for your kids this year, having some structures in place and establishing routines can enable your child to focus on larger tasks or other things that require greater attention.

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5 Successful Routines

Here are 5 successful structures and routines that help our home run more smoothly during the school year:

1) Weekly Schedule Discussion

For us, we try to plan our week on Sunday evenings and talk through the schedule for the week. This helps everyone know where we need to be or what we need to accomplish across the week. Knowing the schedule helps us to get tasks done and plan our time better. I believe we are all more productive when we know what has to get done and work around those items or tasks. By knowing our commitments and obligations, we are able to build free time and flexibility too.

2) Morning Routines with Visual Checklist

No matter whether your child is attending school in person or virtually, mornings can be hectic when you are trying to get everyone up, fed, and ready to start the day. After slow summer mornings, I quickly realized we needed our mornings to go much smoother than my constant nagging of “have you done….” or “do you have…” as we scurry out the door.

I tried out a simple checklist to give my kids a visual of what they needed to do in the morning. The mornings have run SO MUCH smoother! My daughter (who is 8) references the checklist frequently as she gets ready (and encourages her brother to get ready).

Checklists = Increased Responsibility

She loves being able to check things off and I appreciate the increased independence and responsibility. One thing I have quickly realized is that she can be so much more independent if I give her the tools to do so. So I am trying to find ways she can be more independent and I can do less for her. I know that if I do things for her, she isn’t learning and will remain reliant on me, which is not what I want. I want her to be successful in all areas of life and in order to do that I have to let her take on more responsibility.

So far, so good

So far, we have managed to get out of the door on time and with everything since we started using the checklist. I simply have it printed out and placed in a protective sleeve(we love these) and placed on the table each morning. My kids originally asked to cross off what they’ve done as they do it but since the blocks are different colors, they simply touch each block as they complete it and don’t feel the need to cross off each action.

If your child would benefit from crossing off or checking each task. You could do this in several different ways:

You can print your checklist and place it in a protective sleeve and allow your child to cross off each action with a dry erase marker.
You can print your checklist and have your child place a check next to the action when it is completed. You could use one checklist for the week this way. At the end of the week, you could highlight all of the things they did independently.
You may also want to use a blank template or a similar checklist with visuals if your child needs it. On the right is an example.

You can get these templates and others in the Back to School Bundle, shown here:

3) Evening Routines

(we follow almost every night)

We have been fairly strict with bedtime routines since my kids were little. We are really big on consistent routines for great sleep and my children are great sleepers.

We try to stick to these routines (for their sleep and our sanity). Knowing the nightly routine helps them to calm down from the day and prepare their minds and bodies for bed.

My kids take their bath/shower at night so while they are getting into their PJs, they lay out their clothes for the next day. They then brush their teeth with the encouragement of this awesome bear that keeps them brushing their teeth for 2 minutes with a super catchy song.

We then read a book or two depending on how much time we have. For more on how we make this reading time more successful, check out these 10 tips.

End the Day with Gratitude

Once the kids are in bed, we ask them to share their Ta-da’s for the day. This is something my dad did with me when I was a kid and I loved it. A Ta-da is something you are grateful for from that day. It could be something as simple as being able to play outside or spending time with a grandparent or playing with a favorite toy. Once my son or daughter shares something they are grateful for, we say “TA-DA.” They love it and we love celebrating their positive reflection! Sharing a ta-da reminds my kids to find the good in the day and it helps them end their day on a positive note as they drift off to sleep.

4) Schoolwork/Homework Routines and Goal Sheet

We have structures in place for homework routines and we used the same structure for schoolwork routines when my kids were attending school virtually.

You can see some of our structures in a video here.

We use the “choice” board with my kids to help them get all of their tasks done. All tasks that need to be completed are listed out and the child puts a sticker next to the task as it is completed. Using the routine of this “choice” board motivates our kids to get their work done and gives them flexibility with the when and in what order they complete the tasks. We easily adapt the routine and template based on the kids needs. For example, we are currently using this for completing homework and other additional academic tasks. However, we also used this template while my children were completing school virtually this past spring.

Laying out a choice board helps kids to prioritize their day and make sure they completed all of their assignments. They are also able to complete tasks based on the amount of time they take and the order they want to complete them. This planning and ownership are super important skills for kids to learn.

Get a FREE Homework template by checking out the Simple Schedules for Successful Days below:

5) Meal Planning

My kids currently take a snack and lunch to school and both need to be nut-free. My kids are not sandwich eaters (except for peanut butter sandwiches- which is obviously not an option) so I am trying to expand their options.

In an effort to expand their lunch options, simplify packing, and get them involved, I created lunch templates they can help with.

They love choosing from choices I have listed and then putting them on their “menu” for the week. Sometimes they think of some great options I hadn’t thought of so they can add those too. They also love thinking through what needs to go on the shopping list for lunches and snacks.

I love that they are helping, and they are reading and writing for an authentic purpose. It is fun to get them involved and they often come up with some creative ideas – some of them awesome and some not so much but I love that they are being creative and getting involved.

I have learned that the more we can engage children in decisions and choices, the more likely they are to participate = help pack and actually eat their lunches.

We also like to eat meals at home (saving time, saving money, and choosing healthier options- win-win-win), however, if I am going to have something ready that is quick, healthy, and appealing I need to plan.

Benefits of meal planning

I am sure you know the benefits of meal planning but for us: planning our meals helps me minimize grocery trips (or orders) and plan to use food strategically (throwing less away). Planning also helps me keep a regular rotation and strategically integrate new meals, like some of the awesome Raddish kid’s meals my kids love to make.

These simple routines and structures help our home run more smoothly and our helping our kids be more independent and responsible.

Next step for us – a room cleaning routine/checklist. Drop a comment if you have a recommendation.