PedagogicalNews
LET'STALKABOUT ROUTINESANDRITUALS
Routinesareanessentialpartofachild’s day Routines provide a sense of familiarity,securityandpredictabilitythat are important for children (Winderlich, 2019) Educators often talk about routines in Early Childhood settings as being‘difficult’and‘hardtomanage’ This is when we need to consider the reasonandattitudebehindtheroutine:
Isittogetthroughtheroutine?
Orisitanopportunitytoconnectwith children?
Achore?
Routines are wonderful opportunities for meaningful connection and authentic learning to occur Though when routines become a ‘production line’anda‘tickthebox’eventthe opportunities for meaningful connection and learning are lost Theroutineresemblesmore of a task or chore for both parties involved, educators and children
Reflectonroutinesandrituals atyourcampus:
•Whathappensduringthese times?
Howdoeducatorsandchildren act/feel?
•Whatareeducators’intentions intheroutine?
Isittogetthroughtheroutine, orisitanopportunityto connectandlearnwith children?
•Doroutinesandritualsinyour centresupportmomentsof meaningfulconnectionand learningtooccur?
•Areroutinesageappropriate? Andinthechildren’sbest interest?
•Areeducatorspreparedand organised?
Ordochildrenspendlarge amountsoftimewaiting?
ROUTINESANDRITUALS
Disconnect:
Howaremeaningfulopportunitieslostduring routinetimes?
Rushingandhurrying childrenthroughthe routine
Viewingtheroutineasa taskoftheday,tickingit offmentally
Interruptingchildrenfrom playandlearningtojoin theroutine
Notengagingor interactingwithchildren duringtheroutine
Notlookingfor opportunitiesof connectionandlearning, meaningfulmoments
Engagingchildrenin routinesthatarenotage appropriateforthem
Forcingchildrento engage/participateinthe routine,forexample, makingachildrest, makingachildfinishall theirlunchbeforeleaving thetable
Removingindependence fromchildrenduringthe routine,forexample, completingtasksachild cancomplete
Connection: Howtomakeroutines moremeaningful?
Maketheroutinean opportunitytoconnectwith children.
Askchildrentoparticipate andsharetheirideas throughouttheroutine,for example,settingthetable Slowdown
Awaytoensurethat meaningandconnection duringthesetimesisto thinkaboutyourattitude behindtheroutine.
What is special about thesemoments?
How does this routine makemefeel?
Ritualscelebratethe importantaspectsofthe routineandrequire preparationandintention.
Theyareacarefulsetof actionsthatinvolvebeing fullypresentandmindful aboutourtoneofvoice, choiceoflanguage, workinginpartnershipwith childrenandthewaywe physicallysupportthe child
(RitualsforRelaxation,Rest andSleep,2021).
Beintentional(Christie,2021) Bepreparedandorganised fortheroutine
Observethelearningthatis takingplace,forexample,the earlymathematicsandsocial skillsinvolvedinthefollowing scenario-therewillbe5 childrenatthetable,canyou pleaseget5cups?Perhaps youandSallycouldwork togetheronthis?
Allowingchildrenchoiceand asenseofagencywhen participatinginroutinetimes Bepresentwithandavailable forchildren
Empowerchildrenwith independenceanddisplay patienceforchildrento completetasks
Remember:Ritualsandroutines arenotseparatetolearningthat isoccurring,theyarenot momentstogetbacktothe learning