A child’s daily routine: how does a clear schedule help grow and develop?

Is it difficult to wake up your child for school in the morning, and in the evening does he have difficulty falling asleep? Does your child “boycott” the day’s rest and scheduled lunch? These problems are familiar to many parents. The reason for most of them lies not in “bad upbringing” and disobedience, but in the lack of a clear daily routine. Sooner or later, an urgent need arises to organize the child’s life and establish a daily routine. How will a schedule for sleep and wakefulness, nutrition and learning help the baby develop? How to accustom a child to a daily routine and organize his schedule correctly?

Why is a clear daily routine so important?

The correct daily routine for a child is a rational duration and reasonable alternation of various types of activities and rest. [1] A clear schedule allows you to balance periods of training and rest, sleep and meals, and hygiene procedures.

Adults, as a rule, are very frivolous about their own life schedule. The rhythm of modern life dictates its own rules - lunches “on the run”, sleep according to the “as much as you can get” principle, passive rest. And naturally, over time, the child begins to live according to the rules established in the family. He has no choice but to adapt to his parents’ regime - this is exactly the example before his eyes.

A well-structured child’s daily routine is not a strict “prison” regime or coercion. It serves as an effective means to meet all children's needs.

Teach your child to follow a daily routine

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Why is it important to introduce a daily routine?

1. The Foundation of Physical and Mental Health

Compliance with the daily routine does not just develop punctuality in the child. This is a solid foundation for his harmonious physical and psycho-emotional development.

If the baby sleeps enough, he is active and inquisitive, ready for “great achievements.” Daily walks strengthen the immune system and broaden the baby's horizons. By playing with peers, the child explores the world and learns to communicate. A balanced diet according to a clearly structured menu is the key to the baby’s health and well-being. And educational activities included in the daily routine develop culturally and intellectually.

1. The child grows up confident

The children's nervous system is very plastic. Kids adapt quite quickly to any external conditions. And yet, the usual daily routine is the anchor that helps the child to be confident in himself and in the future. When a child knows what will happen tomorrow, or at least after completing his homework, he feels more relaxed and comfortable.

1. Formation of responsibility and discipline in a child

Discipline, responsibility and self-organization are important personal qualities that will prove useful in adulthood. The daily routine will lay the foundation for their formation. The child learns to control his life and be responsible for his actions.

1. Setting life values

Eating together, walking and playing are important family values ​​that a child’s daily routine will help to develop. Rituals prescribed in the daily schedule bring parents and child together.

1. An easy way to form healthy habits

With an established daily routine, the child gets used to a new environment without serious problems and quickly forms useful habits. Children who follow a certain routine adapt more successfully to school.

Organization of the daily routine and its importance in raising children

Irina Savtsova

Organization of the daily routine and its importance in raising children

Organization of the daily routine , its importance in raising children

1. The concept and meaning of the daily routine . Its features in different age groups

The daily routine is of great importance for the health and physical development . A constant time of eating, sleeping, walking, playing and studying—what I.P. Pavlov called an external stereotype—is a prerequisite for the proper upbringing of a child .

routine is a clear routine of life during the day, providing for the alternation of wakefulness and sleep, as well as the rational organization of various types of activities. A correct regimen that corresponds to the child’s age-related capabilities improves health , ensures efficiency, successful implementation of various activities, and protects against overwork.

The physiological basis that determines the nature and duration of activity is the level of performance of the cells of the cerebral cortex, therefore it is so important not to exceed the performance limit of the central nervous system, as well as to ensure its full functional recovery after work. The degree of morphofunctional maturity of the organism determines the content routine and the duration of its main elements, among which the following are distinguished:

- dream;

– staying outdoors (walking)

;

– educational and training activities;

– gaming activities and activities of one’s own choice (reading, music, drawing and other creative activities, sports);

– self-care, family assistance;

– meals;

- personal hygiene.

Sleep ensures complete functional restoration of all body . The physiological need for sleep in children of different ages depends on the characteristics of their nervous system and health status. In the preschool period, both night and daytime sleep are required, regardless of whether the child attends a preschool educational institution, a short-stay group or not. A good night's sleep is important for both preschoolers and schoolchildren.

A child under 5 years old is supposed to sleep 12.5–12 hours a day, at 5–6 years old – 11.5–12 hours (of which approximately 10–11 hours at night and 1.5–2.5 hours during the day)

.
The time allotted for night sleep is from 9–9 hours 30 minutes in the evening to 7–7 hours 30 minutes in the morning. Preschool children sleep once during the day. They are put to bed so that they wake up at 15-15 hours 30 minutes. to organize a daytime nap later - this would inevitably lead to a later bedtime at night.
A six-hour wakefulness in the afternoon is exactly the period of time during which the child will play enough to feel the need for rest. Staying outdoors (walking)

– the most effective type of rest, due to increased blood oxygenation,
replenishment of ultraviolet deficiency, allowing for the hardening of the body and an increase in physical activity. Walks are especially important for children : in winter, at least 4–4.5 hours, and in summer, if possible, all day. The walk is not carried out at an air temperature below -15 °C and a wind speed of more than 15 m/s for children under 4 years old , and for children 5–7 years old at an air temperature below -20 °C with a wind speed of more than 15 m/s (for average stripes)
.

Educational and educational activities.

When building a rational training regimen, of the child’s body . In most healthy children, the greatest excitability of the cerebral cortex and performance are determined in the morning, from 8:00 to 12:00, and in the evening, from 16:00 to 18:00.

Training and education at preschool educational institutions provide for developmental activities. In the junior group, the duration of classes is 10–15 minutes (10 lessons per week, in the middle group (4–5 years)

– 20 minutes (10 lessons per week, in the senior group
(5–6 years old)
– two lessons a day for 20–25 minutes with a break of 10 minutes. In the preparatory group
(6–7 years old)
– 3 lessons per day are conducted according to 25-30 minutes, acquiring the character of learning. Hygienic studies have shown that classes on speech development, literacy, mathematics, and familiarization with the outside world are more tiring than modeling, drawing, designing. Physical education and music
(dynamic classes)
reduce or relieve fatigue.

One of the means of physical education is the correct implementation of a regimen compiled for each age group of children , taking into account their psychophysiological characteristics. If the regime is carried out correctly, then children are calm, actively engaged, play, eat well, fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly, and wake up cheerful and cheerful.

The routine for each age group indicates the approximate time that elapses from the inclusion of the first child in this routine process until the last child ends it.

The younger the children , the less independent they are, the more important it is to maintain the principle of gradualness when carrying out all routine moments .

It is important to make seasonal changes to your daily routine . The program offers modes for both cold and warm seasons.

In winter, due to the weather conditions and the large number of activities with children, the child’s time outdoors during the day is somewhat reduced.

Therefore, a walk is of particular importance , which is extremely important to carry out systematically at least 2 times a day. In summer and other warm periods of the year, the daily duration of children's stay in the fresh air , since the number of classes is reduced to one and almost all routine processes are carried out on the site if possible. Most activities with children - physical education, music, familiarization with the environment, etc. - should also be carried out in the fresh air.

In order for a walk to be not only useful, but also interesting, its content should be properly planned: conduct outdoor games, sports entertainment, introduce children to their surroundings , to nature, to the work of adults on the site, on the street, to involve children in work that is feasible for them. in the garden, going on excursions outside the site, etc.

When implementing the regime, it is necessary to ensure a timely change in the types of activities of children .

When planning work, the teacher provides that classes in which children move little (on the development of elementary mathematical concepts, drawing, etc.) are replaced by physical education and music classes. If children show signs of fatigue (excitement, inattention, motor restlessness, etc.) )

a physical education minute is held.

During the periods of time allocated in the regime for independent activity of children , much attention is paid to ensuring their physical activity.

Based on the best experience of preschool institutions and the achievements of pedagogical science, an approximate routine for each age group of a preschool educational institution, which is included in the “ Education Program in Kindergarten ”

.
The standard regime is designed for a 12-hour stay of children in a preschool institution.
Daily routine (in warm weather)

Regime processes 1st junior . gr. 2 jr. gr. average gr. senior gr. prepared gr.

Getting up, morning toilet 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30

Reception, examination, games, morning. gymnastics 7.00–8.00 7.00–8.20 7.00–8.25 7.00–8.35 7.00–8.35

Preparation for breakfast, breakfast 8.00–8.30 8.20–8.55 8.25–8.55 8.35–9.00 8.35–8.55

Games, preparation for the walk, departure 8.30–8.50 8.55–9.15 8.55–9.20 9.00–9.15 8.55–9.05

Lesson (on site)

8.50–9.00 9.15–9.30 9.20–9.40 9.15–9.45 9.05–9.35

Games, observations, air and solar procedures 9.15–11.30 9.30–11.15 9.40–11.35 9.45–12.15 9.35–12.10

Return from a walk, water procedures, games 11.30–11.50 11.15–11.40 11.35–12.00 12.15–12.30 12.10–12.30

Preparation for lunch, lunch 11.50–12.30 11.40–12.20 12.00–12.35 12.30–13.00 12.30–13.00

Getting ready for bed, sleeping 12.30–15.10 12.20–15.10 12.35–15.10 13.00–15.00 13.00–15.00

Wake up, afternoon snack 15.15–15.35 15.10–15.30 15.10–15.30 15.00–15.25 15.00–15.25

Preparation for the walk, games 15.35–15.50 15.30–15.50 15.30–16.00 15.25–16.10 15.25–16.20

Walk, play outside, children go home 16.40–19.00 16.30–19.00 16.40–19.00 16.50–19.00 16.55–19.00

Daily routine (in cold weather)

Regime processes 1st junior . gr. 2 jr. gr. average gr. senior gr. prepared gr.

Getting up, morning toilet 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30 6.30–7.30

Reception, examination, games, morning. gymnastics 7.00–8.00 7.00–8.20 7.00–8.25 7.00–8.30 7.00–8.30

Preparation for breakfast, breakfast 8.00–8.30 8.20–8.55 8.25–8.55 8.30–8.55 8.30–8.50

Preparation for classes 8.20–9.00 8.55–9.00 8.55–9.00 8.55–9.00 8.50–9.00

Classes 8.40–9.15 9.00–9.35 9.00–9.50 9.00–10.50 9.00–11.05

Games, preparation for a walk, walk 9.15–11.30 9.35–11.35 9.50–11.50 10.50–12.25 11.05–12.35

Return from a walk, games 11.30–12.10 11.35–12.00 11.50–12.15 12.25–12.40 12.35–12.45

Preparation for lunch, lunch 11.50–12.30 12.00–12.40 12.15–12.50 12.40–13.10 12.45–13.15

Getting ready for bed, sleeping 12.30–15.00 12.40–15.00 12.50–15.00 13.10–15.00 13.15–15.00

Wake up, afternoon snack 15.00–15.15 15.00–15.15 15.00–15.15 15.00–15.15 15.00–15.15

Games, self. artist activities, classes 15.15–15.40 15.15–15.50 15.15–16.00 15.15–16.10 15.15–16.20

Preparing for the walk, walk, games, children going home 16.20–19.00 16.30–19.00 16.40–19.00 16.50–19.00 16.55–19.00

Thus, for each age period, a regimen that takes into account the physiological needs and physical capabilities of children of a given age .

The emotional-positive state of the child during the day, the success perception of the surrounding reality depend on complete and timely feeding, high-quality and sufficient sleep, pedagogically well- organized wakefulness . A certain sequence of their alternation should be observed: sleep, feeding, wakefulness.

Organization of the daily routine in home education

Age-related features of the mental development of children 3–4 years old .

At the age of 3–4 years, the child gradually leaves the family circle. His communication becomes non-situational. An adult becomes for a child not only a family member, but also a bearer of a certain social function. The child’s desire to perform the same function leads to a contradiction with his real capabilities. This contradiction is resolved through the development of play, which becomes the leading activity in preschool age.

The main feature of the game is its convention: performing certain actions with certain objects presupposes their attribution to other actions with other objects. The main content of the play of younger preschoolers is actions with toys and substitute objects. The game duration is short. Younger preschoolers are limited to playing with one or two roles and simple, undeveloped plots. Games with rules are just beginning to take shape at this age.

A child’s visual activity depends on his ideas about the subject. At this age they are just beginning to form. Graphic images are poor. Some children 's images lack detail, while others' drawings may be more detailed. Children can already use color.

Modeling is of great importance Younger preschoolers are able to sculpt simple objects under the guidance of an adult.

It is known that application has a positive effect on the development of perception . At this age, children have access to the simplest types of appliqué.

Constructive activity in early preschool age is limited to the construction of simple buildings according to a model and design.

In early preschool age, perceptual activity develops. Children move from using prestandards - individual units of perception - to sensory standards - culturally developed means of perception . By the end of primary preschool age, children can perceive up to five or more shapes of objects and up to seven or more colors, are able to differentiate objects by size, orient themselves in the space of a kindergarten group, and with a certain organization of the educational process, in the premises of the entire preschool institution.

Memory and attention develop. At the request of an adult, children can remember 3-4 words and 5-6 names of objects. By the end of primary preschool age, they are able to remember significant passages from their favorite works.

Visual and effective thinking continues to develop. At the same time, transformations of situations in some cases are carried out on the basis of targeted tests, taking into account the desired result. Preschoolers are able to establish some hidden connections and relationships between objects.

In early preschool age, imagination begins to develop, which is especially clearly manifested in play, when some objects act as substitutes for others.

The relationships between children are determined by norms and rules. As a result of targeted influence, they can learn a relatively large number of norms, which serve as the basis for evaluating their own actions and the actions of other children .

Children's relationships are clearly manifested in play activities. They rather play nearby than actively interact. However, already at this age stable selective relationships can be observed. Conflicts arise mainly over toys. The child's position in the peer group is largely determined by the opinion of the teacher .

In early preschool age, one can observe a subordination of motives for behavior in relatively simple situations. Conscious control of behavior is just beginning to emerge; In many ways, a child’s behavior is still situational. At the same time, one can also observe cases of the child himself limiting his own motives, accompanied by verbal instructions. Self-esteem begins to develop, and children largely the teacher’s assessment . Their gender identification also continues to develop, which is manifested in the nature of the toys and stories they choose.

Approximate daily routine for children who do not attend kindergarten (according to V. E. Vasilyeva and A. F. Kaptelin)

1 Awakening, morning exercises, water procedures, washing 7–8.00

2 Breakfast 8.40

3 Games and activities at home 9.10 -10.00

4 Walk and play outdoors 10.10

5 Lunch 12.30–13.20

6 Daytime sleep (with the transom, window or veranda open)

13.30–15.30

7 Free time for quiet games and preparation for afternoon tea 15 -16.00

8 Afternoon snack 16.00

9 Walk and play outdoors 16.30

10 Dinner 18.30

11 Free time, quiet games 19 -20.00

12 Night sleep

Hours on weekends and holidays

If a child attends a kindergarten, his home regime on weekends and holidays must correspond to preschool regime The established daily routine should not be disrupted without a serious reason. If possible, it should be preserved even when the child’s living conditions change (for example, if parents send him to relatives for a while or take a long trip by rail with him). In certain cases, deviations from the regime are allowed within 30 minutes , but no more.

The accuracy of routine largely depends on how the baby himself regulates his behavior based on developed habits and self-care skills. Experience shows that strict adherence to the established routine day after day gradually develops the child’s active desire to carry out the routine independently , without prompting from adults, without coercion, and this contributes to the formation of such important qualities of behavior as organization and self-discipline , a sense of time, and the ability to save it.

Most preschoolers attend kindergarten, where they receive age-appropriate meals four times a day. Homemade diet in such an “ organized ”

The child’s diet should complement, and not replace, the kindergarten diet.
For this purpose, teachers post the daily menu in each group so that parents can familiarize themselves with it.
Therefore, when taking your child home, do not forget to read it and try to give your baby at home exactly those foods and dishes that he did not receive during the day. On weekends and holidays, try to stick to the kindergarten menu. The general routine of life is also very important. Unfortunately, in many families, especially young ones, the regime , and this inevitably harms the child.

According to our observations, children attending preschool institutions most often get sick after weekends and holidays. And this happens because at home the child is not provided with the regime to which he is accustomed, to which he tuned in in kindergarten: they put him to bed later in the evening, cancel daytime sleep, replace walks with games at home, allow him to watch TV shows as much as he wants, and overfeed him with sweets. All this negatively affects the fragile child’s body , disrupts the functions of all its organs and systems , thereby inevitably weakening the protective mechanisms.

home regime should be a continuation of the child’s institution regime , and if the child does not go to kindergarten, then at home he needs an age-appropriate and strictly observed daily routine. Without this, it is difficult to expect success from hardening.

On weekends, as on weekdays, you should not watch TV for more than 40, or at most 60 minutes. Rhythmic light stimulation coming from the TV screen has an adverse effect on the child’s brain and disorganizes its activity . These 40–60 minutes also include time for computer games.

On weekends you should spend more time outdoors. Walking with the whole family is especially beneficial both physically and psychologically.

On weekends, the child should take a walk, get some sleep, in a word – relax. Try not to let him get out of the usual rhythm of life, do not disturb the usual daily routine . By adhering to such simple rules, you and your baby will waste wonderful minutes of time, happily using them to be together, take a walk, and play. You will become friends with a good mood and well-being, and fatigue and lethargy will have to retreat.

What means help solve these problems?

First of all, the regime was developed in early childhood . Usually the child wants to somehow complete what he is doing (and this can only be welcomed)

. Therefore, you should warn your baby in advance, 10–15 minutes in advance, that you need to go to bed soon. And when this time comes, insist that the child does not linger.

The gradual switch from play to sleep is facilitated by the child’s habit of undressing on his own. By the age of three, a child can undress almost independently and neatly fold his clothes. Over the following years, these skills are improved.

The best clothes for sleeping are pajamas, which, depending on the season, can be flannelette, knitted or chintz. On hot days, children can sleep in panties (but not the ones they played in)

.

Let us remind you: in all seasons of the year, during the day, if possible, the child should sleep in the air. If this is not possible, then he must be dressed and covered in such a way that the window, transom or vent can remain open during the entire sleep time. (The air temperature in the room should not drop below plus 15°)

.

It is also very important to provide access to fresh air during nighttime sleep. If in winter the room gets too cold, it should be well ventilated before the child is put to bed.

It is advisable for the child to get up immediately after waking up. It should be borne in mind that the transition from sleep to wakefulness occurs differently in children : for some it is almost instantaneous, while for others it takes 5–10 minutes to finally wake up.

Dressing yourself and fastening all the buttons is somewhat more difficult for a child than undressing. Throughout preschool age, children should strengthen the skill of dressing themselves and carefully washing and combing their hair after sleep.

Walks.

A walk, long enough and done daily, is the most important means of improving a child’s health and his full and physical development. During the cold season, the child should walk at least 3-4 hours a day. If the weather is unfavorable, the walk can be shortened, but not cancelled. During the cold season, the mobility of some children is limited by dressing them incorrectly or wrapping them up too much. Bulky clothes make it difficult to play with peers, throw snowballs, or make snow “women”

, sledding down a hill, the child not only loses the joy of this fun, but begins to significantly lag behind in physical development.
In such children, adaptability to cold , heat, and resistance to the effects of harmful microorganisms .
They are often either too thin or too fat. Inharmonious physical development leads to a delay in improving motor skills. Often, walks are shortened because the adult who walks with the children is cold, because he moves much less than them . Therefore, it is very important that the adult is dressed and shod appropriately.

The combined effect of cool air and physical exercise is an effective method of hardening and training the most important functions of the body .

With the onset of warm spring days, children spend almost entire days outdoors. In spring, it is also very important to ensure that the child is dressed for the weather. If parents are not in a hurry to lighten the child’s clothes, then in the winter he will overheat. It’s hard for him, he unbuttons and sometimes takes off his coat - but this can lead to illness. Clothes should be lightened gradually: first, change a fur coat or warm coat to a spring coat with a knitted blouse or sweatshirt, then free the child from leggings, warm socks and etc. Later, on even warmer days, you can allow the child to walk with open arms and legs and, finally, in shorts. In the summer, when children develop the habit of walking around lightly dressed, you can leave them in lighter clothes on cool days.

Thus, serious organizational and educational work is needed among parents to streamline the home regime and bring it into line with that established in kindergarten. Parents' attention should be drawn to organizing an evening walk , a night's sleep, and on weekends to proper rest in the air, and regulating the viewing of television programs, especially before bedtime.

When to introduce the regime?

According to American pediatrician Mark Weissbluth, many children are ready to establish a daily routine at the age of 3-4 months. [2] During this period, the baby stops sleeping for most of the day, he begins to play, and eats almost at the same time.

An infant's daily routine includes planning sleep, meals, and walks. After a year, when he is almost completely transferred to the “adult” table, you can develop a clear diet - breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, healthy snacks. By the age of 2-3 years, developmental activities and games are introduced into the daily schedule.

If you manage to teach your child to follow a daily routine as early as possible, you can expect that by the age of 7-8 he will be responsible for following the routine. Mom and dad won’t have to persuade the child every time to go to bed, eat lunch and finish homework, or wake him up for a long time in the morning. Ideally, he himself should be responsible for the distribution of personal time - when to eat, sleep and play, do homework. The only responsibility of parents remains to monitor compliance with the regime.

If it was not possible to introduce a daily routine on time, then you can offer the child to undergo a behavior modification program using 7Spsy technology. The main thing is to explain that as a result of the course, it will become easier for him to stick to the schedule, which means he will have more free time for walks and other favorite things.

Observe first, then set a routine

Of course, these are just examples. You need to develop a daily routine that suits your family's needs and adjust it as needed. If your child starts going to bed earlier but still has to be woken in the morning, try putting him to bed another 15 minutes earlier for five to seven days. Move his bedtime forward by 15 minutes every five to seven days until he begins to wake up on his own.

If your child can't fall asleep after 45 minutes, reschedule bedtime later. The average time to fall asleep is from 27 to 35 minutes. A good way to determine the optimal sleep schedule for your baby and family is to keep a sleep log for several weeks.

Audrey found this method extremely helpful. This is what she wrote to me after a private consultation:

“You advised me to record the time when the child wakes up, sleeps during the day, plays, eats, goes to bed, etc., and then based on this, create a daily routine suitable for our family. A daily routine is an amazing thing! Now, when I hear “I don’t want to sleep!”, “I’m not hungry now!”, I simply refer to the regime. The reason for many conflicts has disappeared. Yes, it took me almost three months to get my baby used to the schedule, but it works! I insist on strict adherence to the regime and adjust it a little every few months, because the child grows and changes. I realized that I couldn’t change my child’s daily routine the way I wanted.”

Thus, a stable daily routine that helps regulate the functioning of the internal biological clock is the key to sound, healthy sleep.

Maintaining a daily routine requires that you schedule activities and events, including doctor's appointments, at times that do not interfere with your child's sleep during the day and at night. If a friend asks you to meet in the park at 2:00 pm, you can easily tell her: “Let's meet at half past four, after an afternoon nap.”

Features of sleep mode

A child's sleep schedule is extremely important for his normal growth and development. Children are active and “digest” a huge amount of information every day. When the baby sleeps, his body and nervous system rest, he experiences in a new quality the positive and negative emotions that he received during the day (disappointments, fears, delight), thus avoiding psycho-emotional overstrain.

Sleep norm

Pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky gives the following standards for the average daily sleep requirement in children: [3]

• up to 3 months - 16-20 hours;
• 6 months - 14.5 hours;
• 1 year - 13.5 hours;
• 2-3 years - 13 hours;
• 4-5 years - 11.5 hours;
• 6-12 years - 9.5-10 hours;
• over 12 years old - 8.5-9.5 hours.

Each child's need for rest is individual. How and how much he sleeps depends on many factors: general health, activity, busyness of the day, quality of nutrition, emotional background in the family and environment. The children's routine should be structured in such a way that the child's sleep is deep, and he wakes up rested and calm.

Causes of sleep disorders

A number of reasons can lead to sleep disorders in a child: [4]

• emotional overload and stress (problems at school, conflicts in the family, heavy physical and mental stress);
• unformed daily routine with proper distribution of time for wakefulness and rest;
• health problems (asthma, hyperactivity, bruxism - teeth grinding, restless legs syndrome, enuresis);
• frequent shuddering during deep sleep;
• frequent awakenings with problems falling asleep further;
• nightmares;
• walking and talking in your sleep.

In most cases, sleep disturbances in children of different ages are not serious illnesses and can be quickly corrected by introducing a clear daily routine. Whims and crying before bed, reluctance to sleep separately from parents, periodic awakenings at night - all this is the norm for young and middle-aged children.

But if sleep disturbances develop while following a daily routine and continue for a long time, this is a reason to consult a specialist.

About 25% of children have some kind of sleep problem, ranging from difficulty falling asleep to sleepwalking. These disorders lead to deterioration of cognitive functions and changes in behavior (depression, anxiety, attention and memory deficits, increased excitability). In addition, growth retardation may occur. [4]

Recommendations from a psychologist

How to teach a child to sleep? The quality of his night's rest improves significantly if certain rules are followed:

• Going to bed at the same time.
• The correct microclimate in the room is 20-22 °C with an air humidity of 60-70%.
• Canceling active games at least an hour before bedtime.
• If a child after 6 years of age sleeps during the day, it is advisable that the duration of sleep does not exceed an hour.
• Cancellation of caffeine-containing products after 16.00 (VK
• including chocolate, cocoa and soda).

The importance of sleep in shaping the health of children and adolescents

Sleep is an important physiological process that is necessary for the growth and maturation of a child, the normal functioning of the central nervous system and metabolism.

Sleep functions:

• During sleep, the pituitary gland produces growth hormone - somatotropic hormone (STH);
• rest, restoration of the functioning of all body systems;
• metabolic transformations, the absorption of various substances in brain tissue, which helps maintain the functioning of nerve cells;
• activation of T-lymphocytes - cells that fight viral diseases;
• adaptation of the body to the alternation of day and night, which is important for the normal functioning of the endocrine system.

How many hours should a child sleep?

Consequences of lack of sleep

For children in the first few months of life, you can organize sleep in the fresh air. At first, its duration should not exceed 20-30 minutes 2 times a day, and then it can be increased to 2-3 hours.

• developmental delay;
• the formation of chronic sleep deprivation syndrome - a condition in which the baby is deprived of the need for sleep (similar to chronic fatigue syndrome);
• reduced, depressed mood;
• conduct disorder;
• problems with concentration, memory impairment, decreased intelligence;
• reluctance to contact others;
• decreased immunity, which leads to frequent infectious diseases that are more severe and longer.

Features of the waking mode

A child's wakefulness directly affects how he sleeps, how he learns new information, and what useful habits he acquires.

Norm of active hours

As your baby grows and develops, he or she will be much more awake: [3]

• up to 3 months - 1-1.5 hours;
• 3-6 months - 1.5-2 hours;
• 6-9 months - 2.5 hours;
• 1 year - 3.5 hours;
• 1-1.5 years - 3.5-4 hours;
• 1.5-2 years - 4.5-5.5 hours;
• 2-3 years - 5.5-6 hours;
• 4-6 years - 6-6.5 hours;
• 7-10 years - 12-14 hours;
• 11-14 years old - 14.5-15 hours.

When creating a daily routine, it is important for parents to find that “golden mean”. If the child is inactive while awake, then he will be reluctant to fall asleep. But his overactivity will not contribute to quality sleep. That's why children's waking hours should be productive, but not overwhelming.

Recommendations from a psychologist

In order for a child to actively explore the world and spend time usefully during the waking period, it is important to create a favorable environment for him. What rules to follow?

• Daily walks in the fresh air are a must.
• For a child of any age, communication with peers is important.
• Closer to bedtime, only quiet entertainment should be included in the schedule.
• The child should have his own workplace where he can comfortably do his homework.
• A child’s daily schedule should have enough time not only for high-quality completion of school assignments, but also for games.
• It is not recommended to overload children with developmental activities, sections, and clubs.
• If the child is overtired, you can include a daytime nap (no more than an hour) in the daily routine.
• It is important to reduce the time spent in front of the TV or at the computer, with a gadget in hand.

How long will it take to establish a new daily routine?

Having worked with families over the years, I have found that parents should get up a little earlier than their children so that they can have a few minutes to themselves before tending to the child. Eating at a set time for everyone helps you avoid feeling like you're a cook in a public cafeteria. If one of the parents comes home late, you can have a family evening snack instead of a shared dinner. After bedtime is completed, some parents prefer to put each child to bed separately. Others find that general preparation and bedtime is a more effective method with young children.

Adjusting your body clock takes time. Progress becomes noticeable no earlier than after three to six weeks. Also be prepared for the fact that about seven to ten days after you start implementing a daily routine, a sharp deterioration may occur. I don't know why this happens, but complications happen in most cases. Perhaps the reason is that at this moment the old system collapses, and a new one begins to build in its place. During such a sudden decline, do not under any circumstances give up following the regime. You are doing everything right. Continue.

When you establish a stable daily routine and keep it seven days a week, you attract Mother Nature herself to help you. Now your baby's brain clearly knows when to sleep and when to stay awake, and easily switches between states - at least most of the time. An unexpected glitch in this well-oiled mechanism is a clear sign of some kind of problem. Perhaps the child is ill, experiencing stress, experiencing a developmental crisis, or something else is happening.

Features of the diet

Nutrition is one of the main factors that determines the full development of a child of any age. The diet should be organized in such a way that the baby receives all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Then all the systems of his body will be ready for growth and various stresses that await him at school.

When a person eats at approximately the same hours, he soon develops a peculiar reflex. By the “usual” time, the separation of digestive juices increases, which means your appetite will be much stronger.

When compiling a child’s diet, you can build on the basic principles of a balanced diet. In this case, the diet will directly depend on the schedule of school lessons and the availability of sports training.

Basic rules of healthy eating for children of preschool and school age:

• One of the important conditions is that from the age of 7, the child’s diet should include at least 4 meals. Ideally, this is: first breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner.
• The diet must include meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. This will ensure that the body receives proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
• You should immediately exclude foods that cause allergic reactions in your child from the menu.
• Snacks between main meals should be light: fruit, a handful of nuts, etc.
• It is important to minimize the consumption of refined sweets, fried, too salty and spicy foods, and carbonated drinks.
• Portions should be small.
• The calorie content of the dishes should “cover” the child’s energy expenditure during the day.
• It is important to form healthy eating habits in a child without creating a “cult of food.”
• It is not recommended to use food as a reward or, conversely, punishment.

Any deviations in the child’s feeding process can lead to undesirable physical and psychological consequences. Negative physiological consequences include nutrient deficiency (important nutrients, macro- and microelements), which leads to various diseases: low body weight, anemia, digestive disorders. Obesity can become a serious problem with “uncontrolled” eating. In the psychological aspect, eating disorders (selective appetite, reluctance to try new foods, complete refusal of any category of food) can lead to a decrease in cognitive function due to a deficiency of substances necessary for the normal development of the nervous system. [1]

Timely identification of the first distortions in eating behavior will make it possible to have a comprehensive medical and psychological impact on the child’s health. Objective conclusions about malnutrition can be made by a pediatrician.

In ICD-10

• anorexia nervosa;
• atypical anorexia nervosa;
• bulimia nervosa;
• atypical bulimia nervosa;
• overeating associated with other psychological disorders;
• vomiting associated with other psychological disorders.

At the same time, some eating disorders in children, which usually worry parents very much, have been moved to other sections in the 10th version of the ICD. For example, difficulties in feeding and introducing food, various appetite disorders. Obesity is included in a separate section.

Pros and cons - how to reach a compromise

The life of a child in the first year of life is difficult to fit into a strict framework - newborns are not yet aware of their desires, they are growing quickly, their needs are rapidly changing. The intense pace of development puts significant pressure on the psyche - the baby does not know how to obey, reason and negotiate, but has the gift of being capricious and throwing tantrums. Do such babies need a clear organization of routine?

The benefits of sticking to a routine

• Timely walks, enough sleep, proper nutrition according to age - support the health of the little one.
• Regular moments are absorbed subconsciously, which promotes deep sleep, excellent appetite and good mood.
• It is convenient for parents to plan the day if they have an understanding of when the child will sleep, eat, and walk.
• The regime introduces certainty into the baby’s life, the concept of boundaries, rules, and this is a necessary condition for the formation of basic trust in the world, thanks to which children gain a desire to learn about the surrounding reality and interact with it.

• The skills of self-discipline, self-organization are developed, as well as the ability to adequately perceive the need to do the same things at a certain time.
• Necessary repetitive activities are performed “automatically”—resources are freed up for unregulated activities (guests, holidays, attending events).

Disadvantages of the mode

• The complexity of organization for very young children.
• At an older age, children become obstinate, and the problem arises “how to make him…”.
• The idea of ​​a clear routine goes back to Soviet times and is a relic of the past.
• Strict restrictions drive a unique, free personality into frameworks and standards, thus suppressing individuality.

According to pediatricians and psychologists, strict regulation of methods and methods of raising children is really not justified, however, experts are clearly in favor of the regime, recommending that it be built as flexible as possible. The main idea of ​​building a “life by the clock” is observing the so-called rhythms of the child and other family members, taking into account the characteristics of each. The task of parents is to organically fit their son or daughter into the already established family routine. The process of establishing a new routine takes time and patience.

To help parents: child mode for the whole day

The student has a lot of new responsibilities - study sessions, sections, household chores to help parents. All this requires not only knowledge, responsibility and discipline, but also a sufficient amount of time. A daily routine will help you maintain excellent performance throughout the school year.

The daily schedule must certainly include the following items:[6]

• training sessions at school,
• doing homework at home,
• free time for your own hobbies,
• full sleep,
• regular meals,
• staying in the fresh air,
• personal hygiene.

The child’s routine is based on his school schedule. A primary school student spends 4-5 hours a day in school classes. The daily routine during school hours is organized by the school administration and the class teacher. At home, parents and the child himself are responsible for observing the regime.

To create a clear daily routine, you can take the following schedule as a guide: [6]

What should you teach a 1-1.5 year old child?

At this age, it is imperative to teach your child to wash his hands, brush his teeth, and use a spoon, napkin, and potty.

Daily routine for a child from 1 to 1.5 years old

How to accustom your child to a daily routine?

Some parents are very prejudiced against the need to introduce a daily routine for their children. There is an opinion that life “according to a schedule” teaches a child to do what SHOULD be done, and this dooms him to lack of will and weakness of character.

But in fact, a competent daily routine is not a desire to destroy the child’s creativity, but a desire to streamline his life. If you take a responsible approach to drawing up a regimen, it will become the basis for the harmonious development of the child.

Psychologist Jennifer V. Malatras conducted an interesting study based on a survey of about 300 respondents. Its purpose is to establish the importance of daily routines in childhood. It turned out that adults who grew up in families with an established routine have fewer problems with concentrating and managing their time. And schoolchildren demonstrate better behavior if they followed a daily routine before entering school. [7]

So, how to accustom your child to a daily routine? When drawing up a daily schedule for young children, psychologists advise observing the following principles: [8]

• establish the correct sequence and ensure the required daily amount of sleep and meals;
• ensure timely change of different types of activities during the child’s waking period;
• establish the duration of periods of wakefulness that does not exceed the limit of performance of the child’s nervous system.

If the daily routine is compiled correctly and is carried out accurately, the child is active during the entire waking time. He falls asleep relatively quickly and calmly, sleeps soundly and wakes up alert. He has a good appetite.

How to painlessly accustom a child to a routine? It is important for parents to be consistent and follow a number of rules:

Basic needs come first

Sleep, nutrition, hygiene procedures are the basic physiological needs of a child. It is around them that you should build your daily routine. Walks, games and educational activities are planned based on exactly when the child is awake and asleep.

Gradual adaptation to the schedule

If parents decide to introduce a strict schedule into their child’s daily routine only after 5-6 years, they will have to be patient. Most likely, the future student will protest against the strict regime. It is important not to put pressure on the baby, introducing all changes smoothly.

The rule of gradual “immersion” into a new schedule always works. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s potty training or entering first grade.

Individual approach to creating a daily routine

The organization of a child’s daily routine should take into account the characteristics of his health, physical development and psychotype, and what hobbies he has. Each baby has different needs. One eats everything and asks for more, while the other has to be persuaded for a long time to “master” at least half of the portion. An individual approach is important. A simple example: you don’t need to feed your baby when he’s not hungry. And when thinking about how to get your child to go to bed on time, you should understand that perhaps he is simply not tired.

It wouldn't hurt for parents to observe their child's natural daily routine - when he usually falls asleep, how long he stays awake, what time he's hungry.

The schedule must be flexible

Any daily routine will sooner or later exhaust itself and require adjustments. The child grows and develops. Naturally, a baby’s daily routine will be very different from the routine of a three-year-old child, and even more so a schoolchild. It is important for parents to constantly change the schedule, adjusting it to the needs and habits of the baby. Over time, more and more new “things” appear in the child’s daily schedule - training sessions, sections, lessons.

Reasonable compromise

Even minor deviations from the daily routine can lead to disruption of the child’s sleep and nutrition. If certain rules are set, they must be followed.

But the child is not a robot. In everything you need to know when to stop and not treat your daily routine as an immutable law of life. Situations may arise when your daily routine will have to change. This is fine. Parents should not panic if getting ready for a walk takes longer or the child wants to eat half an hour later. The regimen also changes during the period of the baby’s illness.

How to ensure your child sleeps soundly?

1. A child needs to sleep a certain number of hours a day.
So, a baby needs about 18-20 hours of sleep per day, and a grown-up child already needs about 14 hours of rest day and night. Focus on the table norms - they will let you understand how to adjust the regimen taking into account the age and individual characteristics of the baby. 2. Children are easily overtired and difficult to calm down if they are overstimulated. What we often forget. The younger the child, the less time he can stay awake without accumulating fatigue.

In this case, it is important to watch for signs of tiredness in your child and spend the last hour before bed in quiet games that will slow him down. Working with fine motor skills will help here: (deleting the word will do) playing with different fabrics, sorting through cereals or beads (under the supervision of an adult), modeling, finger painting

Don't forget about the bedtime ritual, which sets the mood for rest and helps the baby relax.

3. Children react strongly to external stimuli, especially light and noise.

Therefore, it is important to create suitable conditions for rest, starting from birth.

If it is light in the nursery, it will be difficult for the child to fall asleep. Here's why: the hormone melatonin, which affects how we sleep, is produced only in the dark. However, it is easily destroyed under the influence of light, especially the blue spectrum. If the baby sleeps in the light day and night, this greatly reduces the quality of his sleep and the production of melatonin decreases. If the light hits the baby, it passes through the fontanel directly to the brain and destroys the already accumulated melatonin

Therefore, it is important to keep the room dark even in the morning.

Also, in the light, the child will be distracted by the objects around him, and not tune in to rest.

How to create the right atmosphere:

• Darken the room with dark curtains and make sure there is no light coming from electrical appliances.
• Is it worth creating silence? The best option would be to use white noise, which will drown out extraneous household sounds when the child is sleeping. White noise is not addictive and is a positive association for falling asleep.

4. The biological rhythms of children work differently than those of adults. For children, it is physiological to go to bed at night between 18.00 and 20.00 and get up no later than 7 am. This mode allows the baby to get the necessary amount of quality night sleep, since the first half of the night sleep occurs mainly in the deep phase. During this period, active restoration of the body occurs. Early placement is possible from 4 months until school age.

5. It is easier for a child to live according to a schedule. Following a daily routine gives your baby a sense of predictability and clarity throughout the day. It is easier to put a routine child to bed, since his internal clock is set to sleep at a certain time. You also shouldn't skip naps in hopes that your baby will sleep better at night. In the absence of daytime rest, the baby will have a harder time going into the night and will sleep restlessly due to overwork.

6. Getting up at night is the norm. In the first months of life, frequent awakenings of a newborn baby are due to physiology.

But as they grow older, sleep becomes more consolidated and by the age of one year the child is already able to sleep all night without waking up. More precisely, the child will wake up between sleep cycles, but will fall back asleep after a couple of minutes. Provided that he knows how to do it on his own. Babies who do not have this basic skill (and it is acquired, like the ability to attach to the breast, chew and walk) need outside help to prolong sleep. These “helpers” are motion sickness, breasts, bottles, pacifiers, and mother’s presence nearby.

7. Positive sleep associations make it easier to fall asleep. Turning on white noise, using a favorite toy, sleeping in a sleeping bag, and having a bedtime and wake-up ritual can help when working on your child's sleep.

8. The child must have a permanent sleeping place. It's best if it's a crib. There should be nothing in it except a thick mattress with a sheet with an elastic band. A baby does not need a pillow and blanket in the first year of life - it is better to use a baby sleeping bag. The soft toy can be placed in the crib after six months.

9. The mother’s condition is easily transmitted to the child. If you help your baby calm down, calm down yourself. Children easily read our emotions with the help of mirror neurons, which actively work in them in the first years of life.

Include cuddles in your pre-bed ritual. By hugging your baby, you stimulate his peripheral nervous system and calm him down.

Check the table to ensure that you are using sleep aids and avoiding sleep disrupters:

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Why do we need a regime?

The daily routine is of great importance for the child’s health and upbringing. The routine allows you to organize the life of the child and parents as productively as possible, as a result of which all family members are able to cope with a large number of tasks with minimal loss of resources due to fuss, panic and worries associated with possible delays. If meals, sleep, walks and other necessary activities take place at the same time every day, the child gets used to it, begins to understand what discipline is, and more easily adapts from one type of activity to another.

A well-designed regimen, taking into account the recommendations of teachers and pediatricians, contributes to the harmonious development of the child’s personality. The body gets used to living “by the clock”; it “knows” when it is necessary to eat or go to bed, and prepares for the process. Violations of the regime can lead not only to whims, but also to the development of diseases. Most often, children who are accustomed to following a daily routine feel cheerful in the morning and throughout the day, and are in a good mood and balanced state.

Problems can arise when a child has to adjust from one mode to another, and this is inevitable in the process of growing up and changing types of activities. At first, children are capricious, cry, not wanting to recognize the new routine, but in the end they calm down, get used to it, and everything falls into place.

Children attending kindergarten get used to the regime that works in a preschool institution. It is important that parents adhere to the regime at home, then it will be much easier for the child to follow the daily routine in kindergarten. However, many parents attach much less importance to routine than it should. They often allow children to deviate from the established schedule. This cannot be done, since constant connivance interferes with the development of a habit.

Compliance with the regime makes the child independent. He clearly knows what he needs to do, does it without reminders and without help (at a certain age). A clear allocation of time for completing each specific task allows you to evenly distribute the load on the child’s body, which eliminates overwork, whims and hysterics.

Character is formed precisely in the first years of life; by the age of five it is already fully formed, after which only minor adjustments are possible. By introducing a daily routine, you can instill discipline, independence, and punctuality in your child. All these qualities have a beneficial effect on the quality of the gaming and educational process.

As a result, following a daily routine has the following benefits:

• The child grows up healthy because he eats food on time, sleeps well, and devotes a lot of time to active games. Doctors believe that adherence to the regime strengthens the immune system, since the body adapts to it, as a result, the child sleeps better and eats with appetite. In turn, strong immunity protects against diseases.
• The child becomes calm and confident because the routine avoids nervousness, fuss, chaos and disorder. Life becomes orderly.
• Children who follow a routine at home go through the adaptation period in kindergarten and school much easier. Children who have not followed a daily routine at home may find it difficult to get used to new requirements.
• The baby becomes independent early; parents do not need to constantly monitor his actions.
• A lot of time is devoted to developmental activities and those activities that do not occur daily, while constant regular tasks are performed automatically and a minimum of time is spent on them.