When I say to people the key to success is routine they sigh. Most people's answer to this is that they find routine difficult to maintain. I once had a mother that told me that her children sets the events in the house. They bath when they want to and go to bed when they want to. If this is the case in your house then you will also find it difficult to maintain discipline in the house.
Routine is one of the key aspects that keeps any school functioning at an optimum level. Children know exactly what happens at a specific time. This makes them feel secure. Any parent that has a child with learning difficulties will tell you that children can not function without proper routine. If one small thing changes their whole world changes and your world becomes a nightmare.
Routine does not just structure the child's daily activities and life, it also gives structure to the household. The kitchen is clean because everyone eats at a set time. Work-time and playtime is structured preventing children from being bored and frustrated.
No mom, I am not giving you more work, I am actually giving you less. Set up a schedule, keep the children working in their school books as if they are at school. Keep set brake and lunch times. Keep set times for bathing, supper and going to bed. You will actually have a neat house and children that is kept busy the whole day.
Our daily routine is as follow:
06:30 Wake up, clean rooms and make beds
07:30 Eat breakfast, brush teeth
08:00 - 10:00 Maths
10:00 - 10:30 Break time, kids eat something small (break time at school)
10:30 - 12:00 Afrikaan and then English
12:00 -13:00 Break time
13:00 - 15:00 Extra subjects (Geography, History, Science, Life Science, ext)
15:00 - 17:00 Free time
17:00 - 18:00 Bath time
18:30 Supper
20:00 Go to sleep
If your children are still small it might help if you put up a visual time table. A time table with pictures they can understand. This will also help them to understand the concept of time.
Routine is not a bad thing and it is not difficult to maintain. You are going to be at home with your kids for 21 days, locked in. Routine is the key to your success
