“Little Steps is the perfect daycare near me.”

A mother explained when she looked for a “daycare near me” & found Little Steps, “It provided a structured routine & a safe place to leave my child.”

Establishing A Toddler Routine

Routine is important for our little ones. Advice we often hear is setting up a good routine is vital. Routines help children feel safe, develop essential life skills and build healthy habits. It benefits the child as well as mom and dad, reducing stress and providing organisation to a household.

“Will a daycare near me provide stimulating and fun activities to help my child?” is a question often asked by our parents. Pre-schools provide structured curriculums for the day; however, parents are also advised to follow a routine at home.

The Importance of Routine

Routines fill our day from morning to night and are vital in keeping structure and balance. Now more than ever, as the pandemic hit, we have had to adapt and maintain a steady routine. Let us look at why a routine is essential specifically for toddlers and infants.

Provides a sense of stability & confidence

Allowing a toddler to identify what comes next in the day provides confidence and stability, and it assists in making them feel safe and secure in their environments. A more predictable environment is created when they understand their various daily tasks.

Improves social, emotional & cognitive behaviour

Effective routines allow toddlers to engage more with their environment and the people around them. As they understand what their day involves, they become more independent and adapt easier.

Creates learning opportunities As the child grows older, they can learn and master new tasks within their daily routines. For example, learning to wash hands or brushing teeth at bedtime.

Talking with them while they do these tasks also provides the opportunity to improve their communication skills.

Put’s an end to bedtime battles

All parents battle with bedtime and getting their little ones to sleep. “Please can somebody help me get my child to sleep!” Frantic words from many mothers at the most exhausting part of the day.

Toddlers and infants can fall asleep easier and sleep longer with a consistent night-time routine. As your child gets used to the routine at bedtime, they will settle down easier and quicker.

Allows for flexibility

As your child becomes more familiar with a routine, it allows for flexibility, such as going out for an evening or spending the night with a family member. The environment changes, but the routine remains the same.

Reduces the dreaded tantrums

A routine allows children to understand when certain activities will occur, which reduces tantrums and meltdowns.

Assists parents in their day to day tasks

As mentioned, a structured routine is not only for the child but mom and dad too. This provides a structure for your day and allows you to plan accordingly.

Routines At Pre-Schools

Little Steps Pre-School, independently owned, in Fourways Johannesburg, provides daily themes and routines to ensure children follow structure to gain confidence and self-discipline. “We focus on the needs of each child to help them develop a love of learning” explains Mellissa Williams, owner of Little Steps. The day is designed to nurture a child’s sense of independence with a range of mind-expanding activities. A daily routine at Little Steps includes,

• Arrival time

• Free play

• Ring Time

• Art & puzzles

• Tidy up

• Snack time

• Outside play

• Music & stories

• Hometime

Become Part Of The Family

“Little steps is not just a “daycare near me”, but a family I can rely on” explains a happy parent. At Little Steps, your child will be surrounded by friendly teaching professionals who will provide the love and support each child needs to achieve personal growth.

We are one of the only privately run nursery schools in Douglasdale and have two locations with a branch in Platina Road, Jukskei Park, and Hornbill Road, Douglasdale.

Find out more and enrol with us today.