Session 3 - Setting Up Structure At Home

Burlington Public Schools Early Childhood Information Series: Session 3
Setting Up Structure at Home www.beccinformationseries.blogspot.com

● Kids succeed and thrive on structure
● Predictability allows for independence and
self confidence
● Structure helps kids make sense of their
world

● Rules
● Routines
● Expectations

● Create rules using the language of what you
want rather than what you want to avoid ○ Instead of don’t, use do
● Pick rules that will benefit your family most
○ Think of times of day where having some consistency will help everyone
● Give choice when it’s appropriate

● Routines support house rules
● As you start, pick one routine to focus on at a time - it will need to most likely be taught!
When first introducing a new routine
● use visuals - real objects when available; images from the internet
● provide practice opportunities (not only when it’s the real time to do it)
● model
● let them know how they did!!

What to do once you’ve set the rules and routines...
● follow through - no matter how hard
○ if you say it, mean it
○ make sure the whole team is on board
● think about how to tie in fun family activities based on the kids doing what you want them to

Your kids do what you ask them to do/follow the routines
● Praise them
● Reward them (random)
● Let them know how they’re helping the
family

Your kids do not do what you have asked them to do
● Continue to follow through
● Stay Calm
● Limit their access to other things until the
expectation has been follow
○ This is not a negative, but rather a clear black and white contingency

Schedules and routines need to change unexpectedly
● Explain why things are changing
● Create a new plan
● Praise the kids when they follow the new
plan

If you child has a hard time when things change, think about doing some practice...
● set up changes in routines under low stakes situations
● model what to do when things change for them
● let them know how they did, and provide rewards
under these low stakes

● Chore Monster
● i Create
- social story
- schedule maker
● Classroom Dojo
● Social Story Creator and Library

What can we help with?