Importance of Routine: LorrainePursell, MA- NBC TV Segment
Kevin: We’re back on North Dakota Today with the NDT Kids Connection, and I want to welcome Lorraine Pursell, international bestselling author and a family harmony expert. I like that, welcome back to the show.
Lorraine Pursell: Thanks Kevin.
Kevin: Today on Kids Connection we’re talking about routine. Having a routine for you as an adult is very important, but it’s even more important – in fact it’s vital for a healthy, well-adjusted kid. Would you agree with that?
Lorraine Pursell: Absolutely. Kids crave routine because they crave structure, because it gives them security.
Kevin: It makes them feel secure.
Lorraine Pursell: Yes. They know what’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen, they don’t have to guess if their needs are going to be met.
Kevin: I would assume for a child no matter how old they are, whether it’s a teenager or just a toddler that sense of security goes a long way in helping them develop mentally well and emotionally well.
Lorraine Pursell: Because when a child is worried about their survival needs they cannot attend to what’s right in front of them meaning school work or paying attention to you as a parent; so it’s very important.
Kevin: My first question is how many parents out there may be watching this morning realize that this is so vital for our kids?
Lorraine Pursell: It is a tricky thing now. I’m finding that more and more parents are unable to keep the structure because they’re so busy and so stressed.
Kevin: They’re busy themselves, yeah.
Lorraine Pursell: Yeah, and they’re so stressed. So if you can establish just a few things for routine. I came up with the top three if you’re really – if you are very, very busy, if they can get these three they’ll be okay.
Kevin: Let’s do it. Give me the three.
Lorraine Pursell: First one is consistent bedtime.
Kevin: Excellent, yeah.
Lorraine Pursell: I think a good bedtime is 8:00 p.m. because kids need 10 plus hours of sleep a night; so this gives you a little bit of fudge room. Are they tossing and turning; they won’t go to sleep for another half hour or hour. At least they’re beginning to rest. Now there are – the caveat is there are some kids – about 35 percent of the kids who need to run out their energy before they can even be… If you have one of these you know what I’m talking about. They need – it doesn’t wind them up, it actually gets them to be able to calm down. They actually can’t rest until they’ve got that out of their system.
Kevin: What do you do just go take a few a laps around the kitchen or what?
Lorraine Pursell: Exactly, maybe right after dinner where there’s a little bit of time say take a few laps around the house, go walk the door, go ride your bike a little bit. Other kids – about 35 percent can just get in bed and just read, and they can get themselves to sleep. So there’s just a small percent – about a third.
Kevin: Alright, then number two?
Lorraine Pursell: Number two is family contributions. What is important for your child to know that you expect of them as far as what they contribute to the household.
Kevin: Can they grasp that though?
Lorraine Pursell: Yes. Absolutely, they can grasp it so young you would not even believe it.
Kevin: So Jimmie, Janie, you need to contribute to our family over well-being, and so get in bed. Is that what we’re talking about?
Lorraine Pursell: What it is – no not necessarily that. But it’s dinner’s finished, you take your own plate over, you scrape the scraps in the garbage, time to feed Fido, push your chair in, clean up your mess in the common area.
Kevin: That’s part of their routine.
Lorraine Pursell: Absolutely. This is imperative; if you want to save a lot of grief when they get older start as soon as you can.
Kevin: Then tip number three.
Lorraine Pursell: Tip number three is – I can’t remember right now. [Laughter] Meal time – consistent meal time.
Kevin: Meal time. Alright, consistent meal time.
Lorraine Pursell: Yes. If you figure they’re going to be in bed at 8:00 p.m. maybe 6:00ish p.m. is a good time, and as much as you can. I know it’s impossible with people going everywhere to do this every single night, but as much as possible, and everybody sits down at the table, teach them manners and eating with your lips shut, and you don’t get up and leave just because you’re finished eating. Everyone stays together, and so these three things. If you can get them in bed at the same time every night, family contributions, which is another word for chores, which is a dirty word, and then consistent meal times.
Kevin: Alright, thank you Lorraine. If you want more information check out StopYellingatYourKids.com. Lorraine, thank you so much.
Lorraine Pursell: Thank you Kevin.
Kevin: We’ll back right back with more North Dakota Today.
Quick tips for routines that gives your kids life-long character. Go now to www.StopYellingAtYourKids.com and www.3KeysToSelfLove.com for confident mothering and raising kids well without putting your life on hold.