From morning routines to workout routines, our lives as adults are filled with everyday routines that help keep us on schedule.
Children also need to have predictable routines that have room for flexibility, especially infants and toddlers. Here are three main reasons why routines for mealtime, nap time, playtime, bedtime, cuddle time, etc. are important for infants and toddlers:
1. Routines give infants and toddlers a sense of security and stability.
Routines help infants and toddlers feel safe and secure in their environment. Young children gain an understanding of everyday events and procedures and learn what is expected of them as routines make their environment more predictable. Routines can also help infants and toddlers become more trusting of you as a caretaker if their routines are effective and they feel comfortable in the environment.
2. Routines influence infants and toddlers’ social, emotional and cognitive development.
Infants and toddlers who have effective routines are often more engaged with their environment and the people around them.
Young children learn to anticipate changes in routines, and they slowly become more independent as they learn what each routine entails. If routines are predictable, have appropriate transition cues, and have room for flexibility, routines will also help reduce challenging behaviors (tantrums, hitting, biting, etc.) in infants and toddlers and in older children.
3. Everyday routines can be used as teachable moments.
Everyday routines are full of learning opportunities for young children. For example, you can start teaching children the importance of washing their hands before eating or the importance of brushing their teeth. You can also use these everyday routines as opportunities to talk with young children and help them develop their communication skills.
It is understandable that parents of pre-schoolers are very concerned about contagion when continuing to attend toddler and pre-school facilities during the Covid epidemic, particularly during the colder months.
The owners and staff members of Little Harvards have gone to extreme lengths to gain as much professional, reliable information in this regard, exploring all avenues of trustworthy, informed opinions, in order to ensure that the information supplied to parents of pre-school toddlers is 100% accurate.
WE HAVE REQUESTED AND SCRUTINISED INFORMATION GARNERED FROM A NUMBER OF EXPERIENCED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE CRUCIAL CRITERIA THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF OUR LITTLE HARVARDS FAMILY:
- The Covid virus has thus far not been known to affect healthy babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. However, we have been made aware that a marginal number of young children in South Africa have been affected, and we are monitoring any information in this regard in order to supply up-to-date, accurate information with all parents of our Little Harvards.
- We must also not lose sight of the fact that childcare facilities and programmes are crucial factors in the development of a child’s emotional and social behaviour. A very important factor in the importance of mental and physical development of toddlers and pre-schoolers
PRECAUTIONS WE ARE TAKING AT LITTLE HARVARDS:
- Ensuring that all eating utensils are sterilised
- Regular daily sterilisation of the classrooms and the equipment such as toys, desks, carpets, naptime mats and blankets
- Regular sterilisation of the playground equipment
- Monitoring our Little Harvards for any signs of colds, sneezing, coughing and temperatures
We fully understand that the motto ”Better Safe Than Sorry” plays an important factor for parents, which is why Little Harvards will go the extra mile in keeping the classrooms, equipment, toys, napping equipment and all areas as safe as we possibly can.
Parents are encouraged to contact us for any queries and concerns, and we look forward to welcoming back all our Little Harvards at any time.