New arrivals Blog #2: The Power of Routines for children
Today’s blog continues the theme of focusing on some of the challenges associated with arriving somewhere new. This week’s post is all about using routines to help children with the settling-in process.
Why routines matter
This article from Aha! Parenting gives a fantastic overview of why routines are so important for children and is well worth a read. As the article states,
“Children, like the rest of us, handle change best if it is expected and occurs in the context of a familiar routine.”
Moving country is a huge change, with almost everything changing throughout relocation. Children have little to no control over any of these changes. Familiar, established routines which can be transferred to the new location make a big difference to the whole family.
As stated in the Aha! Parenting article: “…routines give them (children) a sense of security and help them develop self-discipline… A predictable routine allows children to feel safe, and to develop a sense of mastery in handling their lives.” Routines also play an important developmental role, as: “Structure and routines teach kids how to constructively manage themselves and their environments.” These benefits are particularly important throughout the relocation process.
My experience
The families I’ve worked with talk about the stage when they’ve just arrived in their new location as being the most chaotic point of the move. One big contributing factor to the chaos is that the usual routines have usually gone out of the window during the initial settling-in period. The home has changed and shipping often doesn’t arrive for some weeks, which all contributes to children feeling unsettled.
Top Tips
Consider which routines will transfer well from your previous location and continue to use those routines
Take a consistent approach to any new routines on a daily or weekly basis as relevant
Recognise that routines are important to help children learn to manage themselves in stressful situations (like relocating) and build resilience upon your arrival
Need some extra support?
Please get in touch if you’re looking for some additional support and guidance with your relocation as a family. I offer a range of services to boost your family’s resilience and wellbeing throughout the relocation process, including my hello/goodbye programme and coaching for adults or children.