Routines
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Children like to know where they stand and setting regular times for waking, eating, homework, playtime and bedtime provide structure that benefits the whole family. For example, a calm bath time before bed for young children, helps prepare them for sleep. In contrast, watching TV and charging around the house is not going to help them get to sleep.
Once the routines are in place, you can of course be flexible, especially if it’s an event like firework night, or you are on holiday. From our perspective, one of the best parts of having a fairly strict routine is that we get some non-parenting adult time after the kids are in bed!
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