Kids need a routine to feel safe and secure. Babies especially need to get into a routine as soon as possible; it gets them sleeping through the night within just a few months! However, even though kids tend to thrive when they know how to get on with the day, some can struggle with keeping up. 

Of course, we’re all different, so it’s no surprise this can happen. But when you’re trying to convince your child to go to bed for the 4th time this week, it can be pretty frustrating! 

But the more you know about routine orientation and why some kids seemingly rebel against it, the better you’ll be able to handle moments like this when kids struggle to follow a routine. 

They’ve Got a Lot of Growing to Do

Kids are always growing. As such, they’re going to adjust to their routine over the years and things will need to change to better accommodate them. You wouldn’t have a 10 year old still following the same routine they had when they were 2! 

Kids themselves can also recognise these differences, thanks to just how much their brains will develop through the years. They may struggle to pick up certain habits, they may get grumpy over having to do certain things, and they may have no trouble at all doing others. 

Each child has their own strengths and temperament and if there’s an issue, sometimes all you need to do is give them some time to grow out of it. 

Any Consequences are a Long Time Away

Sometimes a routine is simply for your child’s own good. They have to do things day by day because they keep them healthy, such as eating vegetables and playing outside for at least 20 minutes. 

However, kids may not be able to understand this. Even teenagers can have trouble grasping the concept. After all, it’s going to be at least a decade before they feel the effects of not sticking to their healthy routine! 

Say your child has difficulty in brushing their teeth regularly – it can be hard to get them to visualise the idea of needing dental implants sometime in the future if they don’t take care of their teeth and gums right now. It’s too much time to be a problem, and thinking about it may be a bit scary, which may even make them not want to participate at all. 

They Might Need Extra Support

Of course, some kids need a bit of extra support with routine changes and adapting to certain tasks in life. This may require talking to a doctor; around 5% of children have ADHD and investigating the possibility is best done as soon as possible. 

It may also mean that your parenting style needs to change a little to best support the way your child naturally is. Work together to find the best way to tackle life and these struggles may just disappear that can impact their struggle to follow a routine.

Routines are good for all kids, but not every routine is good for them.