Summer at Home: Part 3- Creating Structure…
I began this series in early this week with some main principles of the Montessori philosophy and some simple steps that you can do to start your Montessori summer at home. If you missed that post go back and check it out now.
Young children and most people tend to do better with just the right amount of structure in their lives. Not too little and not too much….It gives us predictability and a process of the day. But how do you determine what is right for your child and your family. My first thoughts - Be FLEXIBLE…. finding what’s right for you and your child will take a bit of time to create but will promote independence, responsibility and smoother days.
Schedule, Routine, Rhythm??
What’s the difference?
Google defines schedule as “a plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.” It’s usually associated with time. So think of it as a list of items to get done and times to do them.
Google defines a routine as “a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program” or “performed as part of a regular procedure rather than for a special reason.” It does not have a time associated with it but does have an order, done in the same order each time.
And a rhythm is a bit looser in term but Google defines it as “a regularly recurring sequence of events, actions, or processes.” It is more of a flow to the day. It doesn’t have a time associated with it and is more flexible - usually done with ease.
So which one is the right one for your family? It depends a lot on you. How you view the day, your children often adapt. But observe your family on a normal day? Does your family wake up at set time? Always do the same thing at the same time? Does everything fall apart if you have to switch or deviate from the norm? Or does your family prefer to move slower? Spending longer on tasks some days but moving through quickly on others?
Interested in a summer structure? But not sure where to start?
Start by observing what happens throughout the day and trying different methods:
Do you get dressed before breakfast or do you have breakfast first and then get dressed? Start each day doing the same order. Either is fine but creating some structure will encourage independence and responsibility in your child.
What needs to happen before the morning activity? (daycare, summer camp, storytime, park, etc) Think about the things that need to happen and discuss with your child. Help them to create simple structure in order to leave the house. Remind them of necessary things by asking simple questions as you go… For example - “We are almost ready to go but what needs to go on your feet before we can leave the house?” Shoes! “Right! Should we put them on before or after we brush our teeth?”
What happens around lunchtime? Try incorporating your child into the prep. Can they get out the plates or lunch items?
What about afternoon activities? Again, think about the things that need to happen before, during or after and create a structure around it.
Evening and bedtime? Discuss it with your child, letting them help to create the structure surrounding the activities.
You may have noticed as you go through this process of observing and trying of different methods that discussions often comes up. There are often non-negotiables that come up in parenting but many times by offering choices or letting the child take ownership in the structure (the schedule, routine or rhythm) creates calmer days for everyone.
The non-negotiable maybe brushing teeth before bedtime - but the structure created with the child could be the when or how it happens - Does it happen before or after books? Before or after evening playtime? Does mom help or dad help? Does child brush first followed by mom or does mom brush first followed by child? The teeth are still getting brushed but by offering choices and letting the child be a part of the structure gives them ownership and responsibility.
