Learning Through Play – A monthly parenting & early childhood development column
By Kelly McDonald & Paula Kelly
September 2026
Routines Help Little Bodies Know What Comes Next
September often brings a change of pace.
Back to school.
New activities.
Earlier bedtimes.
Busier mornings.
And for some families, simply getting back into a more predictable rhythm after summer.
Whether your child is heading into a classroom or is still years away from their first day of school, routines can make these transitions a little easier.
As adults, we often think of routines as a way to stay organized. For children, routines offer something even more important: predictability.
Knowing what comes next helps children feel more secure and prepared. When the steps of the morning, bedtime, or leaving-the-house routine become familiar, children don’t have to work quite as hard to figure out what is happening next.
And here’s the good news: routines don’t have to be rigid to be helpful.
Young children don’t need a perfectly timed schedule. Instead, think about creating a few predictable patterns throughout the day:
- Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast
- Shoes on, grab your bag, head out the door
- Bath, pajamas, books, bed
- Clean up toys, choose a story, snuggle
The more children experience these sequences, the more they begin to participate in them independently.
Make Routines Playful
This is where a little play can go a long way.
Instead of repeating, “Put your shoes on!” for the fifth time, try:
“Can you get your shoes on before I count to ten?”
Turn cleanup into a song. Race a stuffed animal to the bathroom to brush teeth. Let your child move a picture on a simple visual schedule when each step is finished.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate. A little silliness, movement, or choice can turn something children have to do into something they’re more willing to participate in.
Why This Matters
Routines help children develop much more than good habits. They support independence, organization, emotional regulation, and the ability to move from one activity to another.
These are skills children build gradually. When daily routines are predictable, children have repeated opportunities to practice them in a safe and familiar way.
And when routines don’t go perfectly? That’s okay, too. Real life happens. The goal isn’t a perfect schedule. It’s giving children enough consistency that they begin to understand:
I know what happens next.
I know what I’m supposed to do.
I can do this.
Play Tip: Try This
Pick one routine that tends to be tricky in your house — mornings, getting out the door, cleanup, mealtime, or bedtime.
Instead of changing everything at once, choose 3–4 simple steps and keep them in the same order each day. Add a little play: make up a song, use pictures, let your child check off each step, or turn one part into a silly challenge.
Keep it simple. Keep it predictable. And give it time.
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About the Authors
Kelly McDonald and Paula Kelly are the founders and owners of FUNdamentals, an educational play center located in East Providence, RI. Kelly is an occupational therapist, and Paula is a special educator, each with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families. As professionals and mothers, they are passionate about creating engaging, relationship-driven experiences that help children build confidence, skills, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Do you have a topic you would like to see Kelly & Paula cover? If so, let us know by emailing Info@EastProvHospitality.com with “Learning Through Play” in the subject line.
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