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| Going with the flow after dinner one night. The children decided to design and test boats during family time. |
In early
summer, I bumped into an informative article called Planning
Summer Days: Rhythm and Routine. This piece illuminated
typical patterns of alertness and ability to focus in children with ADHD –
suggesting what types of activities to plan for which part of a child’s
day. As I have been looking ahead to the
fall and considering how to tweak our daily rhythm, I have found myself
consulting the article again.
After
prayer, thought, discussions with my husband and chatting in an age-appropriate
way with my kiddoes, I have come up with a daily flow framework that I think will work best for us for the fall.
The framework takes into consideration our children’s
learning styles, our family's regular commitments and my take on tips from the aforementioned article. Whether the flow will translate from planning to
practice well for our family has yet to be seen. However, I have already begun to transition us into it and can, with a smile, say, "so far, so good."
Here it is:
Daily Fall Flow
Wake Up Time
o
Tray
or Play Table Time: Games, Puzzles, Quiet Play, Books
Breakfast Time
o
Tidy
o
Family
Meal
o
Faith
Circle/Stories, Etc.
Morning Experiences
o
Personal
Hygiene
o
Family
Work Time/Home Jobs
o
Any
combination of the following with the “less-appealing-to-kids” activities coming before
the “more-appealing” ones, whenever possible, and with either sustained physical
activity or a 10-15 minute spurt of “heavy work” thrown in around mid-morning.
-
Focused
Learning Activities
-
Practice
on Goals
-
Physical
and Sensory Activities
-
Tidy,
then Snack
-
Get
Togethers / Field Trips / Errands /Learning Groups and Co-ops
Lunch and Quiet Time
o
Tidy
o
Family
Meal
o
Read
Alouds
o
Self-Directed
Quiet Activities, including Reading
Afternoon Experiences
o
Any
combination of “minimal persistence/high-interest activities” (i.e. ones the
kids like and stay engaged in) with necesary “less-appealing-to-kids” activities
(such as tidy time) coming before the “more-appealing” ones (like snack time or
online time).
Activities that might be included:
-
Focused
Family Studies and Projects
-
Physical
and Sensory Activities
-
Online
Time
-
Get
Togethers / Field Trips / Errands /Learning Groups and Co-ops
o
Tidy,
then Snack
Dinner and Intentional Family (or Parent-Children Time when Mom is Working)
o
Tidy
o
Family
Meal
o Getting Crazy with Daddy, Creative / Physical / Chill-Time Activities
Wind Down and Bedtime
o
Tidy
o
Screen-Free
Activities (beginning at least one hour before bedtime)
How does your day flow? Do you intentionally structure it to meet certain goals or to accommodate certain learning / personality / neurology styles?
That looks great! As much as I don't "need" a routine, my kids thrive on one. We definitely have better days when we have a plan!
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