Do you use a daily To-Do List?

I cannot imagine going through the day without my list and the way it helps get through the day faster and more efficiently.

If I start the day without a list, I don’t feel purposeful or advancing towards any goal during the day. The day ends up controlling me instead of me controlling it.

A regular and established routine brings comfort and consistency to a child’s life.

Hence, it is important to introduce routine into your child’s life. It helps children learn what is important when regular meaningful and important elements are included into their daily activities. Routines also help your child get things done on time while teaching them order.

Daily routines might include:

• The time to get ready in the morning
• Salat time
• Reading time
• Bath times, mealtimes, naptimes and bedtimes
• Housework, cooking and cleaning schedules
• Play time, family time and outdoor play

According to Anne Nelsen, creating routine charts is great training for children to learn time and life management skills. Parents help their children by guiding them in the creation of their routine charts instead of creating charts for them.

Routine charts create a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for children.

Does this mean that routine charts are magical and will prevent all future resistance and challenges from children? No but imagine how easy it will be for children to include acts of worship into their daily routines when they are on the routine charts.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW), said, “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if it is small” (Bukhari and Muslim)

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Some benefits of routine charts include:

Confidence and Independence: According to Dr. Peter Gorski of Harvard Medical School, knowing what to expect from daily life can develop a child’s confidence and independence.

Build Habits: Routine exposes children to health habits because consistently performing the same activities such as washing hands before meals, cleaning teeth, and taking a walk after dinner, gradually becomes part of a child’s regular activities. Repetition creates healthy habits that your child can carry with them naturally into later life.

Safety and Predictability: Routines help children feel a sense of safety and predictability by not just clarifying what’s expected, but also giving advance notice for what’s coming next.

Self-Discipline: If your child has helped to create the routine, then they are the boss, too, and that’s self-discipline. It also shifts responsibility from parent to child

There is no perfect routine for each family, because each family is different. You should design a routine based on your family’s unique situation and needs. However, think about a routine that is well-planned and regular, with reasonable roles that everyone in the family understands. Depending on your child’s age, you may consider creating routines for the following:

• Getting ready for preschool, school, or daycare
• Getting ready for bed
• Eating a meal as a family at the same time each day
• Spending time outdoors together
• Visiting friends and family
• Attending a place of worship
• Holding a family game or movie night
• Working on arts and crafts together
• Doing family chores

I hope you have learnt something. If yes, would you like to join me in the Parenting for Jannah Academy? You should join the waitlist HERE to be notified when next we are open..