Not Another Schedule!?
How can I provide my child with structure at home?
You might wonder how I can provide my child with this sense of comfort and structure and remain consistent in my applications. Starting somewhere is an important first step, even if it is just keeping to a daily sleep and wake schedule. Little by little, as a parent, you can choose to add certain tasks until the day is complete. It would be great if you can organize a series of tasks or activities that your child can complete at the same time each day. These activities can range anywhere from:
- Playing with toys
- Tidying up after playing
- Doing study worksheets.
Within these structured activities, a designated place for homework is essential to facilitate consistency:
- A table and a chair
- A computer outlet
- Good lighting
- Organized materials
What would an established morning routine look like:
- Using the toilet
- Brushing teeth
- Washing hands and face
- Getting dressed
- Provide visuals or photos of the task to be completed
Get creative with the morning routine:
- Getting dressed after having breakfast
- Providing two choices for breakfast
- Allow them to pack their own schoolbags with supervision
- Make room for flexibility
“If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.” Alfie Kohn
Of course, changes to this schedule are bound to happen. In such cases, it is important to communicate with the children ahead of time and inform them of changes. Use several strategies of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) that will develop children’s tolerance to changes and emotional expression skills. To read more on ABA, check blog post “What is ABA?” (Parts 1 and Part 2).
Please contact the ABA team at SKILD, so we can guide you better with providing your child with the necessary tools to create a scheduled routine at home!
