*OT Tuesday!*
Welcome back to OT Tuesday!
Last week we posted about AOTA’s “Morning Routine” recommendations to help making mornings easier for families. Consider the following activity tips to encourage successful mornings:
1. Prepare children morning time demands:
- Talk to your children the night before about what will happen each morning. Ask them to name the steps of the morning routine.
- Reviewing the morning routine helps to reinforce it. In the morning as they complete a task, ask them what is next.
2. Keep on task:
- Creating a visual checklist can help a child participate in the morning routine. Spend a weekend afternoon creating a checklist with your child so he or she gets excited about using it. Ask for suggestions on what to include and ask him or her to draw pictures for each step. As the child ages, you may update the checklist to avoid boredom.
- Help avoid distractions by leaving the television off in the morning.
3. Promote participation and independence:
- It may be faster and easier to dress children or do their hair, but it is important for them to practice and learn to engage in the morning routine independently.
- Allow children to dress independently on weekends and then progress to weekdays as they become more skilled. Start with a certain aspect of dressing, like putting on socks, then add more complicated clothing, like shirts with buttons. It is okay to let them go to school with a unique outfit or hairdo!
4. Promote flexibility as well as structure:
- Despite the importance of structure and routine, there are some days, like weekends and holidays, where the routine can be relaxed.
- Plan pajama days or fun breakfast times on weekends and holidays to let your children know that sometimes the routine can be changed.
- Remember, fun and play are important ways to promote a child’s healthy development.
5. Make morning routines fun:
- If routines are fun, children will be more engaged. Think about being creative with dressing and grooming activities. Play upbeat music while children are getting dressed. If they get dressed early, allow them to play with a special toy. Reward them for a job well done.
*All info received from AOTA’s website*
Thanks for stopping by!
-CTG Austin