dysTalk Top Tips For Preschoolers Developing Independence Amp Routine - Talks - dysTalk

About the speaker: Dr Helen Likierman is a consultant clinical psychologist working with families and children where there are emotional, social, behavioural or learning concerns. Visit Helen's website at www.psykidz.co.uk.

Further information about this Talk

Further Reading:

Visit Helen's website at www.psykidz.co.uk.

To get hold of Valerie Muter's and Helen Likierman's latest book on how parents can prepare their child for school please click here.

Key Points Covered in This Talk:

• Getting the basics right: One of the most frequent complaints from teachers about children who have just started school is that they don't know how to deal with the basics. These inlcude going to the toilet by themselves; sitting down at a table and eating properly; and dressing and undressing for sport/games. Parents should get their children practicing these skills well before the start of school.
• Developing routine: Routine means developing patterns for doing things in the same sort of way at the same sort of time, whether it's bed time, meal times or getting up. Things need doing at regular times in a regular way so that the day flows smoothly. Routines at home are important not only in themselves but also they will make life easier both for parents and for children at school. They certainly help with behaviour as they prepare your child for good behaviour. For bedtime there should be a countdown for bedtime. The countdown is as important as going to bed itself. Children need to know that after supper there is a period of play, followed by a bath and cleaning teeth, followed by bedtime and a story. If the child knows exactly what's going to happen in the order that it's going to happen then the child will feel more secure and there won't be a big issue every time it's bedtime about what has to be done and who's going to tell them what to do. The same is true for getting dressed in the morning and for meal times. This will ensure things are done in a time-effective and enjoyable manner. Having routines is not about being obsessive or rigid. It is about being regular and letting the child know that regularity makes life easier. Routines should not inhibit spontaneity or fun.