Order and Structure

Order and structure are both vitally important for young children as they try to make sense of the world around them. Maria Montessori observed that order was in fact a Sensitive Period – a limited period of time during which children are focused on developing a particular skill or knowledge area. 

External order allows a child to establish their internal order.  Order, structure and routine allow a child to feel they have some control and predictability in their lives as well as allowing children to feel safe.

So – if it’s such an important element in our children’s lives, how can we go about putting it in place at home? 

We can start by looking at our home environment through the eyes of a child.  Think child-sized, child-height.  When we do this, we also bring other forces into play such as independence.  Doing things and learning how to do things on their own is a driving force in children from birth – so let’s try to set up our home environment to be an enabling environment – one which encourages children to succeed – think being able to hang up their own coat, help themselves to a drink/snack whey they are thirsty/hungry.  By having shelves at the height of a child, they can choose what toys they would like to play with and then put them back where they found them after they have finished playing.

When we put in place a family environment that is set up for a child, it can also help to become a consistent setter of limits and boundaries.  Children know what is expected of them, so it is not the adult who constantly has to monitor what is going on.

Routines likewise play a big role in providing our children with order and structure. Having routines in the morning and at bedtime for example, and explaining these to our children, as well as giving them a visual cue in the form of wall calendars, helps cement knowledge and understanding of what needs to happen at these times.  Having visual calendars on display, also means that we can reference them without long drawn out explanations or negotiations!

Throw some responsibility into the mix, such as getting our children involved in household chores from an early age, and we send a clear message to them that we value them, trust them and that they are part of our family structure.

Underpinning all the above is time – allowing plenty of it – if we don’t, we are setting ourselves up for frustration – both for ourselves as well as for our children!

When we prioritise putting in order and structure for our children, they act as preventative maintenance, encourage self-discipline and responsibility for self, help to eliminate power struggles, organise the whole family, as well as helping children to feel safe and independent.  That’s a lot of win-wins!