Why Consistency is Crucial for Your Kids

Consistency is key! This is true for working out, eating healthfully, home maintenance, going to class, learning a new skill, writing blog posts (wink, wink)...you name it. Where it also is key – even crucial – is in our parenting. It provides a framework for kids to grow, learn, and thrive. While we all have different recipes for parenting, consistency is one of those ingredients that benefits all kids.

Whether it’s maintaining a routine, setting expectations, or following through on the things you’ve promised, consistency creates a healthy foundation for our children. Let's check out 5 reasons it matters and 5 ways to foster it.

5 Reasons Consistency Matters

1. Creates a Sense of Security – When we know what to expect from our day-to-day lives, we feel more in control. Consistency in your family routines and rules helps your kids understand their environment and feel secure in who you are and what is expected from them.
2. Builds Trust – Just like we feel with our peers, when you as a parent follow through on what you say, your children learn they can rely on you and your word.
3. Teaches Responsibility and Discipline – Consistent rules and consequences that are applied predictably help us understand the importance of following through on commitments. When you, for instance, expect your children to make their beds every morning and have a standard consequence if they don’t, they develop self-discipline and accountability.
4. Reduces Anxiety – Unpredictability can cause stress for any of us! Consistent routines and responsibilities like bedtime and daily chores create stability, which reduces the mental burden that uncertainty can cause.
5. Reinforces Positive Behaviors – People thrive on reinforcement. When good behavior is acknowledged, it encourages people – especially children – to repeat their good behavior.

5 Ways to Foster Consistency

1. Stick to Your Routines – This can be hard for all of us, but it is so vital for a productive day and a calm mind. Establish daily routines for activities such as meals, chores, and homework. This will give children a sense of calm through structure and stability.
2. Set Clear Expectations – It’s so much easier to get through life when you know what others expect from you. Make sure your kids know the rules and the consequences for breaking them.
3. Be a Role Model – Let your kids see you being consistent in your actions and your words. If you expect your kids to make their beds each day, make yours too!
4. Use Open Communication – When things change, they are easier to deal with when we know why. If there is a change to a routine or shift in expectations, explain them clearly to your children.
5. Celebrate Progress – Are your kids sticking to their routines and meeting expectations? Awesome! Acknowledge their good work to motivate them to keep it up.

When we look at our own lives, we can see that consistent behavior, treatment, expectations, and routines reduce our stress and set us up for success. Let’s create this type of successful, lower-stress world for our children by filling their young lives with consistency!

Here are more resources on the benefits of consistency for our kids:

Why Structure and Consistency Are Important for Kids by Kid’s Creek

The power of consistency while parenting young children by Sandord Health

The Importance of Routine for Children: Creating a Consistent Schedule by Childcare Network

Why Structure and Consistency Are Important for Children by inclusiveteach.com