Studies show that having structure and familiar rituals teaches kids how to constructively manage themselves and their environment. As a physician who studies early brain development, I've found one surprising factor that contributes to increased resilience at a young age: creating "nurturing routines." When children do things in a similar way and at a similar time, over and over, they know what to expect. And as they begin to do parts of their routine with less supervision, they will grow more independent and confident. Explaining the why behind a routine helps kids learn what's expected of them and feel the positive impact of completing the routine.

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