The 28 family routines that can boost your child’s development

Parent(s) have some time each day for just talking with the children
Parent(s) have certain things they do every morning while getting ready to start the day
Working parent has a regular play time with the children after coming home from work
Working parent takes care of the children sometime almost every day
Children do the same things each morning as soon as they wake up
Parent(s) and children play together sometime each day
Non-working parent and children do something together outside the home almost every day (e.g. shopping, walking, etc.)
Family has a ‘quiet time’ each evening when everyone talks or plays quietly
Family goes some place special together each week
Family has a certain ‘family time’ each week when they do things together at home
Parent(s) read or tell stories to the children almost every day
Each child has some time each day for playing alone
Children take part in regular activities after school
Young children go to nursery the same days each week
Children do their homework at the same time each day or night during the week
Parents have a certain hobby or sport they do together regularly
Children have special things they do or ask for each night at bedtime (e.g. a story, a good-night kiss, a drink of water)
Children go to bed at the same time almost every night
Family eats at the same time each night
At least some of the family eats breakfast together almost every morning
Whole family eats dinner together almost every night
At least one parent talks to his or her parents regularly
Family regularly visits with the relatives
Family checks in or out with each other when someone leaves or comes home
Working parent(s) comes home from work at the same time each day
Family has certain things they almost always do to greet the working parent(s) at the end of the day Parent(s) have certain things they almost always do each time the children get out of line
Children do regular household chores