Everyone operates better when they are in the zone — that magical place of mental, emotional, and physical harmony. Tiger Woods sinks every putt, Serena Williams aces her opponents.

But getting into the zone isn’t always easy. For athletes, it may take hours of practice or meditation. For your child, routines are among the best ways to get into the zone.

Children thrive on repetition and predictability. A routine might be doing the same thing at the same time, in the same order, or with the same song or words. So, if you can perform certain activities, such as mealtime and bedtime, in the same way every day, your child will feel a sense of comfort and security. With consistent routines, she will be able to perform at the top of her game as well as feel more confident, ready to learn, and willing to explore the world around her.

Building a Routine That Works
Just as workouts need to be tailored to fit the athlete, all children and their families function differently, and there is no single approach when it comes to routines. However, successful routines seem to share these characteristics:

• Consistent. Doing the same things in the same way lets a child know what is coming next and makes the world seem safe.
• Focused on everyday activities. By providing guidance for how to act every day (during meals, baths, and bedtimes), routines can build confidence and lead to healthy independence.
• Transition-oriented. Moving from one place or activity to another can be disorienting for a child. Routines for arrival and departure, such as creating a special sign or phrase for saying goodbye at child care, can help your child move through transitions more easily and calmly.
• Adaptable. Although routines need to be consistent, they should also be somewhat flexible. Rather than being rigid, they need to evolve with the changing needs of the child and the family. As the child grows and changes, so should the routines.

If you want to help your child find her own zone, be sure to build routines around your daily activities. Your child will benefit from the security and predictability, and when she is feeling calm and happy, you will be too.

Special thanks to Nina Sazer O’Donnell, Martha Erickson, Ph.D., Kyle Pruett, M.D., and Fran Stott, Ph.D., for the generous donation of their valuable time and expertise in reviewing this edition of Bits of Understanding.

Civitas thanks Parents as Teachers, an international early childhood parent education and family support program, for their ongoing support. This Civitas tool was adapted for the Born Learning campaign.

© 2007 Civitas