Are you looking for a gentle approach to get your little one more involved in your family’s daily routine? Look no further, we have a tried and tested (kid approved!) tool to prepare your child for the day ahead and get them more involved in the process. Daily routine cards are a visual tool to communicate and set expectations between parents and their children. The cards feature illustrations and accompanying words to set routines at home, especially for the morning and evening. These cards can be ordered together with your little one to demonstrate the structure of the day and allow them to lead their day with this tool as their handy guide.
Here at The Creative Sprout, we truly believe that daily routine cards are a perfect way to help ease transitions and reduce meltdowns for children. The visual cues create a structured daily rhythm for your child to easily follow and are effective in preparing them for the day ahead. When little ones know what’s coming up, their behaviour generally improves and their anxiety about change or uncertainty is better managed.
Why is routine important?
Establishing a routine for your little one is essential in providing them with emotional safety and security, as it provides familiarity and consistency (which is what kids thrive on). When children understand what is expected of them and can trust that what is expected of them is unlikely to change, they are able to comfortably perform regular tasks without too much stress or anxiety – whether that be brushing their teeth or reading a book before bed. A consistent routine in the home will have far fewer variables, so your little one can relax in knowing what to expect.
Another great benefit of routine is setting up your kids with good habits for life. Teaching them healthy habits when they’re young will help to make these helpful tasks become habitual, so over time they won’t even need to be reminded – washing hands or exercising are examples of this! The key to making good habits stick is to do them regularly. If you’re looking to introduce a new task, then make it simple and fun – daily routine cards are a fantastic tool for this. Just remember not to add too many new activities to your routine at once, otherwise it can become overwhelming for children.
How do you use routine cards?
This visual tool will become your best friend in parenting! When you find yourself struggling with the morning or evening routine, implement a clear and consistent structure with routine cards to help your child feel more in control of the process. Here’s a rundown:
01/ Sit down with your child at a quiet time during the day. Explain to them what routine cards are and let your little one participate in choosing the tasks that need to happen each morning and evening (with your guidance of course!).
02/ Decide on a kid friendly way of displaying the cards in a central location that will make it easy for them to see and follow along. There are several options that look great – pegged up and hung on string or attached to their bedroom wall with velcro or adhesive putty. There is also the option of a magnet card set, which is perfect for putting on your fridge as a daily reminder. You can also choose whether to display the routine for the whole day or switch the cards from the morning to evening regime – perhaps when your child comes home from day care or school. There is no right or wrong approach, just choose what best suits your family.
We invite you to explore our range of beautifully hand drawn routine cards, thoughtfully created with your little one in mind. With 72 tasks included, this set of cards will take your toddler from early childhood to the new season of schooling and responsibilities. We also offer a set of 20 magnetic routine cards that cover those essential (yet tricky) morning and bedtime rituals. Enjoy creating an easy rhythm in your family life with these must-have visual tools.
