Parents, listen up: while living by a schedule may seem mundane or monotonous, there are many benefits of having set routines for kids. Routines not only provide a checklist of all the musts in a child’s life, but also serve them mentally, physically, and emotionally. In fact, this kind of structure can help the whole family.
1. Nutrition
Routine meals help with adequate nutrition in kids, and combat unhealthy eating habits, even obesity, by planning out when kids eat and snack. For example, little ones who eat breakfast regularly have been found to consume more milk or unsweetened dairy (often a good source of protein and calcium) than those who eat breakfast occasionally. Nutrition can be a stressful part of parenting, but kids seem to model eating behaviors—so, if you eat a healthy morning meal, your kids may be likelier to do so.