The Family Schedule

A family schedule is a central component of establishing rhythm and routines in your family. Family schedules guide your child’s life to enhance predictability and mastery.

Do you have a family schedule? Do you know what happens in your family Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday?

It’s time to actually write your schedule out for all to see.

Start with a piece of paper or better yet, a piece of large cardboard. Draw out your family schedule. You might even go to a teacher's store and buy a school-sized schedule, they are so fun to mark up, write on and change over time.

Let’s begin with Monday, what does your day look like? Remember it's not the time that matters, it's the order of the activities, that's what establishes family rhythm.

• Time to wake-up, get dressed and go to school
• School-Time
• After-school Activity Time
• Homework-Time
• Dinner-Time
• Outdoor Play/Sports Time
• Reading-Time
• Bed-Time

Now for each day, write out your schedule.

Talk with your spouse and your kids about the family schedule. What does your schedule look like? Draw it out, hang it up and enjoy the structure and predictability it provides.