Can I share my latest navel-gazing with you?
One of things that I enjoy about being a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom is that I don't have to be tied to a strict schedule. No punching a time clock. No checking in with a boss. A few times a week, Ladybug and I do have certain activities, but those of our choosing. I love the freedom of not keeping to a tight schedule.
I do like routine, however. It's predictable. It helps me frame our days.
But I wonder...
Ladybug will be 3 this month. How much of a schedule does she need? We've enrolled her in preschool starting in the fall. Only three mornings a week. But they will definitely have a schedule.
Should I start establishing a daily schedule now so that she gets used to it? Or should I have a schedule for the fall on the days that she isn't in preschool to help her have some predictability? Or does she just need to be a kid? And do I need to allow her to enjoy the unstructured days of childhood?
More pondering ...
Will a stricter schedule at home help with discipline problems? Do I need to start expecting her to contribute with daily chores?
All these questions make me a little anxious and a bit overwhelmed. I don't WANT to keep a strict schedule. I know it will take more discipline on my part. If craft time is every day at 3:00, then I'll need to prepare crafts ahead of time. Plus, if I need to run an errand and it's reading time, how much leeway can I allow us and not get over zealous about schedule-keeping?
I don't have any answers right now. Just doing some wondering. I'd love to hear about how strict you are with a daily schedule, especially if you're a stay-at-home-parent. And if you're a working parent, how does schedule keeping help you manage your family?
Please share!
Photo Credit: stock.xchng
I'm not a fan of schedules. I'm definitely a proponent of routine and letting kids know what's coming. We have a big calendar (about 2x3 feet) in our kitchen that lists everything we do that is routine. For example, I don't put "coloring/painting" on it, but if one of my kids asks to bake and we can't do it today, I will put it on there for tomorrow or the day that we can do it.
ReplyDeleteWe have a very general routine. Mornings: breakfast, play, go somewhere, come home. Lunch. Afternoons: Resting time until around 3. After resting time, if it's nice we play outside. If it's not nice, we watch a little tv, do some baking or other playing. This is also a good time for us for crafting.
If you think that having an unknown activity might be causing LB to have some discipline issues, one thing you might try is having a visual schedule for the day. It doesn't have to be a strict schedule, but use pictures of things to show her what's coming next. You can use magnets to stick it to the fridge or put it on a velcro strip. I think there is benefit in letting kids have input in the routines and also in knowing what to expect, but I don't think that at 3, 4, 5 there is much benefit in locking them into a schedule.
great question! my twins are in preschool on tuesday through friday from 8:30 to 11:30. on those days the schedule is to come home, have lunch, watch a little sesame street, and then have naptime whereupon my girl twin naps and my boy twin sits on his bed playing quietly (or giggling, reciting the alphabet, etc). after naptime, we do craftime, reading time, or computer time based on what they want..... bossy girl twin usually tells me what to do. Then dinner, free play, and bed. so those days are easy. It's Sundays and Mondays that are harder to fill because of no school. Saturdays we have the Jewish Sabbath so on those days we read a lot and take walks--- no computer, no phone, no car, etc. Sundays and Mondays we usually go out in the mornings--- errands or fun activities and then when we get home it's the same as a preschool day. If we don't go out, that's a good time to play on the climbing slide thing in the backyard or do sidewalk chalk -- something out of the house even if we don't go anywhere. I think if you have a good mix of activities during the day you don't need to stick to a specific this is reading time, this is craft time type of schedule, UNLESS you're trying to do preschool at home and trying to get certain skills accomplished in certain weeks. If I were homeschooling, I'd spend the morning hours planning activities that relate to weekly goals and such--- but because my kids are both special needs and need PT, OT, and speech therapy, it's best that they're in preschool and get all that wrapped up in their daily group life (and I get a little time to work).
ReplyDeleteYou've gotten some great comments, Heather! I'll throw in my two cents and say that a loose schedule has helped my daughter a LOT. By "loose" I mean that bedtime & naptime is very consistent, meal times are pretty consistent, and the kinds of things we do with the rest of the available time can vary.
ReplyDeleteKids definitely need a lot of time to just be kids and do whatever. I think as they turn into preschoolers, it helps to shape that time just a bit. I know that Wendy behaves MUCH better when there are a few basic guidelines in place, than when I just turn her loose to play all day.
What can I possibly add? Your little one will have enough years of schedules ahead of her. Let her enjoy this sweet time with Mommy. She will love Preschool too!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add that we have a fairly consistent routine during the week. Monday mornings we go to a parenting group, Tuesdays we did a bible study (although it's over now), Wednesdays were for library story time, Thursdays we scheduled with friends for playdates, and Fridays we went to another parenting-type group. On any given day we could be flexible about whether or not the boys were interested in going, but if they were both up for it, they knew that's what was on the calendar.
ReplyDeleteWith my 3 kids (6, 4, 2) we have a loose schedule Bedtime 7:30, naps / quiet @ 2 - 3:30ish. Breakfast at 7:30 or 8.
ReplyDeletePizza / movie / popcorn on Friday night. Grandma's on Sunday after church.
These are the things that keep me sane.
Of course we get off track, sometimes the kids nap in the car. I've learned though they are happier and so am I when we keep these as our goal.