Routine is essential: practical tools and tips to keep it going

Effective visual cues

For little ones, and sometimes even older kids, it can be hard to remember exactly which steps to do before leaving for school or when getting home. To help them, nothing beats a visual aid that lets them easily carry out each task in their routine, in order.

A routine chart

If you'd like to see your kids get through their routine without your help, use our little magnetic dry-erase chart with 5 or 10 steps alongside our routine magnets. It will let them not only see at a glance which tasks they need to do, but also keep track of what's now finished. Ideally, choose the 5-step chart for younger children, so you don't see them get discouraged by the size of the task!

The 5-step routine chart The 10-step routine chart

Petites Séquences sticker sequences

Because the youngest kids often need the tasks we ask them to do to be clearly broken down into several small steps, our Petites Séquences sticker sequences are the perfect tool to help them get through their routine independently. Placed in strategic spots around the house, they let kids know exactly what they need to do before moving on to the next step of their morning or evening routine.

Petites Séquences sticker sequences

And what about motivation?

You've given them all the visual cues they need, but your kids still keep you waiting every morning or constantly ask what the next step of their evening routine is? Bring in the magic of the General Store! First give your kids a token for each routine step completed, then a token for all the routine steps done well. Still not cooperating any better? Apply logical consequences to their actions:

• If the morning routine takes too long, bedtime will have to be earlier so your child can wake up early enough to have time to complete each of the necessary steps before leaving for school.
• If the bedtime routine drags on, your child will have less time to play in the evening before having to start it, so they don't end up going to bed late.

The General Store

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