The Importance of Routines in Foundation

Having a routine helps to bring consistency and comfort to a child's life, as well as providing a sense of normality. Children tend to fear the unknown, and while change is important in life, it can also create a lot of added stress for children, and much of the school day is based on a routine.

Although the storybooks being used this week in Nursery and Reception may not seem to have a shared theme, they both centre about getting ready for bedtime, a regular routine in every household. The Reception is using the Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere, and the Nursery book is Whatever Next by Jill Murphy in which Baby Bear is getting ready for his bath before bedtime.

Routines need not be boring as both these stories illustrate as they include great excitement and anticipation. This applies to the school day too: Reception introduced the story by making monster footprints leading into the class which caused great excitement first thing on Monday morning. In Nursery, the weekly Talk Activity encouraged parents and children to go to build a rocket and go to the moon! Over the week, the children will be discussing the stories in preparation for the end of the week, when Nursery will have a picnic on the Moon and Reception children will be having a pyjama party.

Liz Wood
Primary Deputy Principal