Pediatric Dentistry

from ParentMap August 2021 Issue

Public or Private School?

says Dr. Chen-Milhone. “Establishing a good routine at home is helpful for everyone, because people know what to expect, with fewer surprises. It also helps people obtain better-quality sleep, which helps alleviate excessive anxiety.”

Parents may get discouraged about enforcing a bedtime routine after months without much daily structure. Instead of focusing solely on the bedtime routine, Dr. Alkharouf recommends looking at the entire day. “We want to think about setting up routines throughout the day,” she notes. “A good routine will vary depending on a child’s age, but we know that we want to have good morning, after-school, dinnertime and bedtime routines in place.”

Older children respond best when routines are created with their input and understanding, says Dr. Alkharouf. “Dinnertime is a great time to discuss the events of the day and talk about what’s going well and what didn’t go well. Parents can also talk to middle school kids about screen time and the importance of reducing screen time in the evenings to prepare for sleep.”

Whether families want to reestablish more consistent daily routines or return to a more predictable preCOVID bedtime, this school year offers an opportunity to establish healthy habits. “The right routines are going to be targeted to each child and family based on their needs and their schedule,” says Dr. Alkharouf. Your child’s pediatrician can help you work out an approach that works for your family and sets your child up for school-year success. ■ Malia Jacobson is a health and family journalist based in the Puget Sound area.