How we introduced a daily roster to our Six-year-old for a smoother day
Things were starting to become a bit of an all-over-the-place situation at home. There was a routine…technically, but the timing was never quite right. You know what I mean? Like the day was planned, but never on time.
Getting Big Boy to sit down with his homework was a real struggle. He’d keep asking, “When can I have screen time?” or “Can I have another snack?” (Probably his tenth one by then.) The distractions were endless.
Daddy and I had a serious conversation about it because it was clear something had to change.
Daddy suggested we draw up a proper roster a day mapped out from the moment he wakes up, right through to bedtime.
So here’s the plan we put together:
In the morning, we allow a “wake up time” even though his awake, these 10minutes are taken just so that he can gather his thoughts (because man oh man, the talking machine goes on the moment he wakes up).
We then get ready and by 7am Big Boy should be dressed, done having breakfast and teeth, face cleaned.
He then has 20min to play, before its off to school.
The afternoon routine is the reason why we initially came up with a roster, so we set out the following:
Ten minutes to get undressed after school no beating around the bush.
Then time to eat, relax a little, and enjoy some screen time before unlocking his creative play, by drawing or playing, we call this use your imagination time.
When all his energy for playing is depleted, homework time means distractions off, focus on the task.
After homework, supper, bath, and story time to wind down.
By 8pm he should be tucked into bed and asleep.
And here’s the fun part: if he’s been good, he earns an additional 30 minutes of his favourite TV show before bed.
Big Boy has accepted that he has tasks and understands that each task gets a tick mark as he completes it. The goal? To get 10 out of 10 by the end of the day. When he hits that, he gets a reward (thanks to my editor for suggesting that star system!) He can paste a star under that day to celebrate his accomplishment.
We haven’t hit full marks just yet bad behaviour means losing a point, and right now he’s in the backchat stage, so we’re still working on pulling up those behaviour socks. Here’s how he’s been scoring: 6 out of 10 on day one, 8 out of 10 for day two and three, then 9 out of 10 for Thursday and Friday. Steady improvement, but definitely still work to do.
This roster is teaching my son so much about routine, responsibility, and the satisfaction of completing a day well. For me, it’s been a lifesaver, giving me a clearer structure to plan my day, meetings, and work around, knowing there’s some order at home.
Fingers crossed for that first perfect 10 and many shiny stars to come!
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za