Routine Machine: Getting Your Kids on a Routine

What should your kid, Mike Hargrove and Nomar Garciaparra have in common? Nomah and Grover are both known for their religious home-plate routines. In fact, Mike Hargrove was called “The Human Rain Delay” for his painstakingly long performance. After each pitch, he would put the bat between his legs, fix his gloves, pick up the bat, knock the dirt off his spikes, straighten his cup, make sure his helmet was in place, take a few practice swings and then he”d be ready for a pitch.

It”s no wonder he has such a high lifetime .OBP. It was nearly impossible for pitchers to concentrate for his 10 minute at-bats.They often walked him. Of course we”ve all seem Nomah fix the gloves, kick his feet and take his check swings.

Your kid craves this kind of discipline. They don”t know what to do with themselves, which is why they count on you and your wife, girlfriend or life partner to provide a routine. Can you believe that many noodads do not enjoy a relaxing evening at home because their one to three year olds stay up until 9 or 10PM? Noodads, when are you going to have time to decompress if your kid is up until 10PM? When are you going to have time to bump and grind if your little one is watching Elmo on-demand at 9:37PM?

Routines are not always easy to follow, but they lay the groundwork for your kid”s discipline. When you kids asks “why?”, you can just say “Because it”s part of the routine.” They provide structure in the day that will prepare your kid for structured activities like playgroup, tee-ball, soccer and pre-school. They should be based on activities that are not deviated from, but can also have components that are swapped in and out.

There are obvious times to provide a routine, like FCH.
But what about getting in the car?
[M] Put their shoes on.
[M] Put their coat on.
[M] Put them in their car seat.
[M] Do the bottom clips
[M] Do the top clip
[O] Then they can have a toy, sippy cup or book.

M=Mandatory
O=Optional

Pre-dinner (do one of these while someone makes dinner)
[O] Watch a little TV like Sesame Street or Dora
[O] Read some books
[O] Play some toys

I know that o.c. designer is thinking “How the hell is that routine foodad? It”s only one thing!” Well noodad o.c., it happens every day so your kid gets into the habit of doing it, therefore it”s routine.Everything is routine! That means that means that routine can also be evil.

Anti-Routine
When your kid starts putting together the routine that”s when things go awry. If you allow them to stay up until 10 because they whine or you become a short order cook because they refuse to eat. If you allow them to skip their bath or not brush their teeth because they don”t like it, you can easily end up with an anti-routine.

Implementing a routine
You just do it and you don”t take no for an answer. You let them know that you”re the boss and you repeat it in spite of resistance. I always tell them, let”s take care of business first during the routine. Then I tell them, we always [steps of the routine]. They know and when they attempt to deviate (which doesn”t happen often) we just refer to the routine. If your kid resists the routine, this is the time to get stern. You”re the parent. Exert a little parental force if you need to. Now, when we change the routine my daughter tells ME what we missed. She likes the routine. Not that she doesn”t enjoy a routine diversion, but the routine is what guides her through the day.

Good luck with implementing routines Noodads!