Breaking The Routine: Helping Your Toddler Through Changes

While your daily routine with your child might feel dull and repetitive to you, it is comforting for your toddler. The predictability of a reliable schedule helps them feel safe because they know what’s coming next. The more your child feels secure, the more she can focus on learning, exploring, and playing.

But in the real world, sometimes things happen and you must break the routine. Here are a 3 simple tips that can make it easier for you and for her to manage the break in the routine.

1. Explain things to her. Using simple language, explain to her why and how her daily routine has changed, and if it will be permanent or temporary. Take the time needed to explain it to her and answer her questions so she can be prepared for what is coming.
2. Keep things familiar. For example, if you’ll be having lunch outside the house and at a different time, take her favorite bowl with you or her teddy bear if it gives her comfort. You have to change things, but you can try to keep things familiar with her.
3. Keep the same morning and evening routine. You might be in a different place, or someone else might be taking care of her for a few days, but it’s important to follow the same routine when she wakes up and when she goes to sleep. Explain that to her caretaker.

These things can help, but you can still expect some meltdowns. It should comfort you to think that these changes in routine actually set the groundwork for teaching her coping skills for when she’s a little bit older.

Reference: http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/social/toddler-routines-schedules/