Sie sind auf Seite 1von 7

Why do kids need routines?

Because routines give them a sense of security and help them develop self-discipline.

Humans are afraid of many things, but "the unknown" edges out everything except death and public speaking for most
people.

Children’s fear of the unknown includes everything from a suspicious new vegetable to a major change in their life. For
better or worse, children are confronted with change daily, which is a growth opportunity, but also stressful.

The very definition of growing up is that their own bodies change on them constantly. Babies and toddlers give up
pacifiers, bottles, breasts, cribs, their standing as the baby of the house. New teachers and classmates come and go
every year. They tackle and learn new skills and information at an astonishing pace, from reading and crossing the street
to soccer and riding a bike. Few children live in the same house during their entire childhood; most move several times,
often to new cities and certainly to new neighborhoods and schools.

And few of these changes are within the child’s control.

Children, like the rest of us, handle change best if it is expected and occurs in the context of a familiar routine. A
predictable routine allows children to feel safe, and to develop a sense of mastery in handling their lives. As this sense of
mastery is strengthened, they can tackle larger changes: walking to school by themselves, paying for a purchase at the
store, going to sleepaway camp.

Unpredictable changes – Mom called away on an unexpected business trip, a best friend moving, or more drastic,
parents divorcing or a grandparent dying – erode this sense of safety and mastery and leave the child feeling anxious
and less able to cope with the vicissitudes of life. Of course, many changes can't be avoided. But that's why we offer
children a predictable routine as a foundation in their lives--so they can rise to the occasion to handle big changes when
they need to.

While helping children feel safe and ready to take on new challenges and developmental tasks would be reason enough
to offer them structure, it has another important developmental role as well. Structure and routines teach kids how to
constructively manage themselves and their environments.

Kids who come from chaotic homes where belongings aren’t put away never learn that life can run more smoothly if
things are organized a little. In homes where there is no set time or space to do homework, kids never learn how to sit
themselves down to accomplish an unpleasant task. Kids who don’t develop basic self-care routines, from grooming to
food, may find it hard to take care of themselves as young adults. Structure allows us to internalize constructive habits.

Won’t too much structure dull our sense of spontaneity and creativity?

Sure, if it's imposed without sensitivity. There are times when rules are made to be broken, like staying up late to see an
eclipse, or leaving the dinner dishes in the sink to play charades. But even the most creative artists start by mastering
the conventions of the past, and find the pinnacle of their expression in working within the confines of specific rules.

There's no reason structure has to be oppressive. Think of it as your friend, offering the little routines and traditions that
make life both easier and cozier. Not only will your kids will soak up the security, they'll internalize the ability to
structure their own lives.

Does this mean infants should be put on routines as early as possible?

NO! Infants tell us what they need. We feed them when they're hungry, change them when they're wet. Over time, they
learn the first step of a routine: We sleep at night. But forcing an infant to accommodate to our routine is not responsive
to your infant's needs. She is not capable of adapting to yours yet. If her needs aren't met, she will simply feel as if the
world is a place where her needs don't get met, so she has to resort to drama to try to meet them.
As your infant moves into babyhood, she will establish her own routine, settling into a schedule of sorts. Most babies
settle into a fairly predictable pattern. We can help them with this by structuring our day around their needs, so, for
instance, we make sure conditions are appropriate for her nap at the time she usually sleeps. Gradually, over time, we
can respond to her natural schedule of eating and sleeping by developing a routine that works for her and for the whole
family.

Seven Benefits of Using Routines with Your Kids

1. Routines eliminate power struggles

Routines eliminate power struggles because you aren't bossing the child around. This activity (brushing teeth, napping,
turning off the TV to come to dinner) is just what we do at this time of day. The parent stops being the bad guy, and
nagging is greatly reduced.

2. Routines help kids cooperate

Routines help kids cooperate by reducing stress and anxiety for everyone. We all know what comes next, we get fair
warning for transitions, and no one feels pushed around, or like parents are being arbitrary.

3. Routines help kids learn to take charge of their own activities.

Over time, kids learn to brush their teeth, pack their backpacks, etc., without constant reminders. Kids love being in
charge of themselves. This feeling increases their sense of mastery and competence. Kids who feel more independent
and in charge of themselves have less need to rebel and be oppositional.

4. Kids learn the concept of "looking forward" to things they enjoy...

...which is an important part of making a happy accommodation with the demands of a schedule. He may want to go to
the playground now, but he can learn that we always go to the playground in the afternoon, and he can look forward to
it then.

5. Regular routines help kids get on a schedule

Regular routines help kids get on a schedule, so that they fall asleep more easily at night.

6. Routines help parents build in those precious connection moments.

We all know that we need to connect with our children every day, but when our focus is on moving kids through the
schedule to get them to bed, we miss out on opportunities to connect. If we build little connection rituals into our
routine, they become habit. Try a snuggle with each child when you first see them in the morning, or a "recognition"
ritual when you're first reunited:

"I see you with those beautiful gray eyes that I love so much!" or a naming ritual as you dry him after the bath: "Let's dry
your toes...your calf...your knee...your thigh....your penis....your belly ..."

Rituals like these slow you down and connect you on a visceral level with your child, and if you do them as just "part of
the routine" they build security as well as connection and cooperation.

7. Schedules help parents maintain consistency in expectations.

If everything is a fight, parents end up settling: more TV, skip brushing teeth for tonight, etc. With a routine, parents are
more likely to stick to healthy expectations for everyone in the family, because that's just the way we do things in our
household. The result: a family with healthy habits, where everything runs more smoothly!
Why is Music Education in Schools Important?

It seems these days, music education is being offered less and less in many school systems. Unfortunately, many schools
have begun to exclude music from their curriculums to make room for other subjects.

Music is an extremely important subject for all children to learn and can lead to better brain development, increases in
human connection, and even stress relief. As music is removed from schools, children will no longer receive these
benefits unless they enroll in private lessons, which is much too expensive for some families to afford.

Here are five reasons why music education in schools is important:

#1) Music stimulates brain development in children

Various studies have found that engagement with music can lead to an improvement in brain development in children. A
study at Northwestern University found better neural processing in students who played a musical instrument when
they were compared with students who simply listened to music. This study shows the importance of receiving music
education, rather than simply turning on background music when students are doing work in other subjects. Other
studies have also found increases in IQ points in children who engaged with music. When compared with students who
didn’t take any music lessons, musically-engaged students had more improvements in IQ subtests, index scores, and a
standardized measure of academic achievement.

If you’re interested in enrolling your child in music lessons outside of the school system for more engagement with
music, take a look at this article to learn about the costs.

Music education is also a great way to enhance reading comprehension abilities in children. Another study, which was
also conducted at Northwestern University, found that students who actively participated in music classes had better
speech processing abilities along with higher reading scores than children who weren’t involved. Reading is an important
skill for all children to develop because it is needed for all subjects. Even subjects that are not related to English
literature will involve reading. For example, math word problems require excellent reading comprehension abilities in
order to answer them correctly.

#2) Music is a way to connect with other people

Music education is also important because it will give students a way to connect with other people. Children are
naturally very social, and it’s important to encourage them to build relationships by providing them experiences to share
with each other. Creating a school band or small ensemble, or encouragings participation in a chorus will allow children
to work together towards a final product (such as an end-of-year performance). This encourages bonding and will
provide students with something to reminisce on together in the future.

It has been proven time and again that having people of all ages play or listen to music together will help to create
bonds. Having an impromptu drumming circle or listening to and enjoying a piece of recorded music can connect people
through sound, singing and even movement or dance. Musical experiences such as these can bring back a fond memory
or create new ones!

#3) Music integrates many different subjects

Another reason music education is so important is that it integrates so many different subject areas all at once. Not only
will music education allow children to develop their musical skills, it will also give them the opportunity to work on their
math skills, reading and writing skills, science skills, and history knowledge. For example, time signatures in music are an
excellent way to incorporate fractions, and lyric analysis and songwriting will allow students to work on their reading
abilities.

Additionally, having discussions about how instruments work will involve information on the physics of sound, and
learning about music’s place in society will shine a light on important historical events. If teachers are concerned about
their students’ skills in other areas of learning, they will be able to incorporate them into a music class with ease.
#4) Music teaches discipline

Music will also teach children to develop time management skills and discipline. If students are expected to learn their
instruments and practice outside of school, then they will develop the ability to create a practice schedule and balance
every other activity they have going on in their lives. Learning discipline and time management from a young age will
have countless benefits on a child’s future. For example, if a child develops discipline in elementary school, they will be
much more able to balance the workload they’ll receive in high school and excel in their classes.

Excelling in their high school classes may then allow a student to choose a reputable post-secondary institution that he
or she would like to attend, which will lead to better job prospects as an adult.

#5) Music can relieve stress

Finally, music is an excellent way to relieve stress, which is significant for students who may feel overwhelmed by
schoolwork and try to balance extracurricular activities. Studies have found that music can reduce burnout and improve
mood states. As students enter into the upper grades of the school system and begin considering applying for post-
secondary schools, they might feel overwhelmed with the need to keep their grades high. Even young students can
experience stress with the increasing amounts of homework school curriculums require. Some students may also have
stressful home lives, and music will offer a way to escape from these situations.

In addition, you may consider Soundtracking your classroom to help relieve stress and anxiety for your students. Doing
so can also help create a focused learning atmosphere.

Music has many benefits to people of all ages. It’s important to know why so that we can continue to advocate for
keeping music education in our schools!

20 Important Benefits of Music In Our Schools

Nearly everyone enjoys music, whether by listening to it, singing, or playing an instrument. But despite this almost
universal interest, many schools are having to do away with their music education programs. This is a mistake, with
schools losing not only an enjoyable subject, but a subject that can enrich students’ lives and education. Read on to
learn why music education is so important, and how it offers benefits even beyond itself.

1. Musical training helps develop language and reasoning: Students who have early musical training will develop the
areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music, and songs
can help imprint information on young minds.

2. A mastery of memorization: Even when performing with sheet music, student musicians are constantly using their
memory to perform. The skill of memorization can serve students well in education and beyond.

3. Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create
good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all subjects of study.

4. Increased coordination: Students who practice with musical instruments can improve their hand-eye coordination.
Just like playing sports, children can develop motor skills when playing music.

5. A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable
goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievement.

6. Kids stay engaged in school: An enjoyable subject like music can keep kids interested and engaged in school. Student
musicians are likely to stay in school to achieve in other subjects.

7. Success in society: Music is the fabric of our society, and music can shape abilities and character. Students in band or
orchestra are less likely to abuse substances over their lifetime. Musical education can greatly contribute to children’s
intellectual development as well.
8. Emotional development: Students of music can be more emotionally developed, with empathy towards other cultures
They also tend to have higher self esteem and are better at coping with anxiety.

9. Students learn pattern recognition: Children can develop their math and pattern-recognition skills with the help of
musical education. Playing music offers repetition in a fun format.

10. Better SAT scores: Students who have experience with music performance or appreciation score higher on the SAT.
One report indicates 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math for students in music appreciation
courses.

11. Fine-tuned auditory skills: Musicians can better detect meaningful, information-bearing elements in sounds, like the
emotional meaning in a baby’s cry. Students who practice music can have better auditory attention, and pick out
predictable patterns from surrounding noise.

12. Music builds imagination and intellectual curiosity: Introducing music in the early childhood years can help foster a
positive attitude toward learning and curiosity. Artistic education develops the whole brain and develops a child’s
imagination.

13. Music can be relaxing: Students can fight stress by learning to play music. Soothing music is especially helpful in
helping kids relax.

14. Musical instruments can teach discipline: Kids who learn to play an instrument can learn a valuable lesson in
discipline. They will have to set time aside to practice and rise to the challenge of learning with discipline to master
playing their instrument.

15. Preparation for the creative economy: Investing in creative education can prepare students for the 21st century
workforce. The new economy has created more artistic careers, and these jobs may grow faster than others in the
future.

16. Development in creative thinking: Kids who study the arts can learn to think creatively. This kind of education can
help them solve problems by thinking outside the box and realizing that there may be more than one right answer.

17. Music can develop spatial intelligence: Students who study music can improve the development of spatial
intelligence, which allows them to perceive the world accurately and form mental pictures. Spatial intelligence is helpful
for advanced mathematics and more.

18. Kids can learn teamwork: Many musical education programs require teamwork as part of a band or orchestra. In
these groups, students will learn how to work together and build camaraderie.

19. Responsible risk-taking: Performing a musical piece can bring fear and anxiety. Doing so teaches kids how to take
risks and deal with fear, which will help them become successful and reach their potential.

20. Better self-confidence: With encouragement from teachers and parents, students playing a musical instrument can
build pride and confidence. Musical education is also likely to develop better communication for students.
Are teenagers today prepared for life after school? Or are American students too coddled? Windsor High School student
Aliezah Hulett ponders these questions in her TED-Ed Club talk, “Preparing Students for the Real World.” During the talk,
she advocates for schools to teach more real-life skills to their students, including a basic understanding of the metric
system and a more realistic approach to sex education. Read on for an interview with Aliezah about the gap between
what we learn in school vs. what we need in later life.

There’s a lot of discussion about modern youth being supposedly less ready for adulthood than their parents’
generation. Do you think that today’s teenagers are less prepared for the real world than ever before? If so, why?

Teenagers today are the perfect example of what can happen if parents never challenge their children to go above and
beyond. They hand everything to their kids. It used to be that you’d be extremely privileged if you got to use your
parents’ old beatup car once you turned sixteen. If you wanted something else, you would get a job and pay for it
yourself because it was triggering a sense of responsibility. Nowadays, I see 16-year-olds with trucks and Priuses straight
off the lot. This causes teenagers to be less prepared for the real world than ever before. A large chunk of this is due to
parents coddling their children. According to this interesting article from The Guardian, “more than a quarter of 20 to 34
year olds are still living with their parents according to new statistics — the highest proportion since 1996.”

Do schools have a responsibility to fill in the gaps when parents don’t educate their children about basics?

The school system and parents should be working together to raise educated students. Schools should be accountable
for instructing students to be knowledgeable about the world around them, even when the parents slack off. It should
be a joint effort between parent and educator to train the next generation of children to be independent and prepared
for what’s ahead.

Some educators might be concerned that teaching lessons around more real-world subject matter would take time away
from traditional topics like calculus or Shakespeare. Do you see value in traditional topics?

Traditional topics such as calculus and Shakespeare should not be neglected, but teachers should be able to ask their
class, “Now, how can we use this lesson outside of the classroom?” Every class should be able to draw out a moral that
students can leave with daily. For example, a possible moral for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet could be to not be
swept up in emotions and carry out such rash actions.

Right now, do you think most of your peers are capable of handling life after high school and college?

If my peers were to be thrown into the real world, I don’t think that they would know how to handle themselves. There’s
a sense of responsibility and maturity that come from having a job. When someone puts their head down to achieve
their goals by themselves, as an independent adult, their outcome will reflect what they learned in both high school and
college. These include how to sew a button or how to use a plunger!

You spoke about the need for a pragmatic approach to sex education in schools. How would you respond to those who
say students shouldn’t be learning about sex at all in school?

Those who think that teenagers shouldn’t be taught about sex in school are trying to shield children from learning about
the outside world. In high school, college, and the many years after, sex is a real thing. I agree that abstinence is the only
way to fully prevent teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among youth, but what happens when they do
decide to have sex? The answer is that they could end up getting pregnant and spreading STDs because they may not
know how to properly address these types of situations. This is in no way promoting sex, but instead teaching
tomorrow’s future about the truth, and what may arise in their future. By providing students with knowledge of how to
properly go about the physical and mental components of sex, we are raising educated adolescents.

If you had the opportunity to design a school from the ground up, how might its classes be different from classes in
existing schools?

If I got to design my own school, the classes that students would take would be based on two main components: what
students are interested in, and what students will need for their lives after graduating. Sometimes, there are classes that
we don’t necessarily like but are required to take because they teach things that are needed out there in the real world,
or provide a better basis for the rest of a child’s learning career. However, it is proven that when a child is enjoying the
class, they are more likely to absorb the information. If there is a particular subject or teaching style that a student likes,
that’s information to act on.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen