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The Return of Routine

Sketch of a snowy backyard.
Like a blanket of snow, the routine lets us start fresh and pick a small goal to work towards.

The regular rhythm of the days and weeks will start to kick in now and for our kiddos, this is soothing, comforting and relaxing.  They probably really need this right about now. Back to school, therapies and a daily schedule that stays pretty consistent.  Ahhh.

For this week, just enjoy getting everyone back into the swing of things and then you can start to think about my Tuesday’s Timely Tip.

Set a small goal or two.

Teachers love this time of year because we can use the routine to help the kids reach their full potential.  Everyone gets going like train cars on a track. They can really learn, build skills and feel confident because the weeks follow a predictable pattern.

The same is true for our kiddos at home.  So, this is the time of year to set a manageable goal for yourselves…not a huge new year’s resolution type situation…just a couple of measurable goals to work towards.

Maybe you want to make toothbrushing more independent.* Is it time for your child to cut his own pancakes? Maybe you want your child to start looking both ways before crossing the street (while holding your hand for safety). Could your daughter practice brushing her own hair?

By picking one or two things to work on during the time of year when the rest of the schedule is more predictable, you’re keeping your own to do list manageable and by spring, you may see some measurable progress on the one or two things you chose.

* For more detailed information on toothbrushing, here’s a helpful link. https://mikeysjournal.com/oral-hygiene/

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Erica Mauro

About the Author

Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 😉

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