5 Reasons for Toddler Repetitive Routines

5 Reasons for Toddler Repetitive Routines, is a follow-up to the previous post, Raising Young Readers. Have you ever wondered why your little one always wants the same story or songs repeatedly? Always chanting, “Again! Again!” immediately the story or song is over. Well, this is because children have a unique penchant for repetition, especially when it comes to their favourite things. From birth until the age of six, children go through sensitive periods. This is experienced in five main categories: order, movement, sensory skills, language and social skills.

In order to master the art of crawling and proceed to pull up and eventually walk, an infant must consistently repeat each step. I bet you may sometimes feel like a broken record having to repeat the same activity continuously for weeks or even months? Be calm and consider that your child might be going through a sensitive period. But what captivates children so intensely, compelling them to press the replay button on the same experiences? Let’s look at some examples of language sensitive periods from my experience. Then, a brief look into sensitive periods will be the centre of our research-based fact.

My Experience

The number 1 favourite book in our home right now remains, The Beginner’s Bible: Timeless Children’s Stories. We read this book every night for two reasons. The first reason is because our little ones are still interested in it. The second reason is that this book satisfies their curiosity – for now. This is attributed to sensitive periods. Let’s read on.

One day, we decided to set the book aside and narrate the story of Jonah with the help of our 3-year-old. Her recollection of the story without the book signaled a sensitive period for language as she nailed key points of the story. We tend to underestimate or completely disregard the mental digestive ability of our little ones’ minds. From experience, I can confidently attest that storytelling nurtures the intellectual curiosity of children in such a way that transcends the pages of a book.

As a Montessori educator, I recall reading The Gruffalo, a few years back to individual and groups of toddlers for many months. Then one day, we were outdoors for some playtime, and sighted a rat in the distance dash towards the garbage bin. Almost immediately, one of the toddlers yelled “Mouse”! The teachers acknowledged this observation. We knew that the toddler subconsciously blurted out knowledge digested from the beloved storybook, “The Gruffalo”.

Over the past 2 months, hubby exposed our 3-year-old daughter to letters “A”, “B” and “C”. Completely oblivious to their bedtime ritual, my baby girl caught me unawares one day, when she shouted, “mommy, letter A” while pointing to the TV. Now, we’re at letter “F”. I also noticed this same attraction to shapes, numbers and alphabets with my friend’s 2 and a half-year-old son. Part of the sensitive period for language involves learning the alphabets and shapes. These exemplary toddlers are definitely in that zone. For my daughter, each night is like clockwork – after her Bible story, she does her alphabets, shapes and numbers.

When it comes to songs, there’s an indescribable excitement that lights up the faces of toddlers each time their favourite songs are cued. During circle time, (either in the school or home environment) various actionable nursery rhymes are sung which gets most of the toddlers (including mine) all fired up. I came to a conclusion that the repetition of songs act as familiar and reliable old friends in a world of constant change. The predictability of this narrative allows children to feel safe and in control, empowering them to navigate the uncertainties of growing up. Overtime, these children gain a sense of mastery and confidence from an early age.

Research-Based Fact

Sensitive periods

Sensitive periods is a phase/opportunity window in a young child’s life where the child is fixated on fulfilling a certain skill or development area. From birth until 6 years old, sensitive periods speak to the need for repetition of tasks in young children and last for as long as it is necessary for the child to complete a particular stage in their development. As established in the introduction, sensitive periods are experienced in five main categories: order, movement, sensory skills, social skills and language. In case you missed it, these 5 categories are 5 reasons responsible for repetitive routines in a young child’s life.

In brief, the sensitive period for order involves routine and structure, resulting in the repetitive behaviour of packing things away. For movement, children are sensitive to fine and gross motor skills, such as crawling, writing, jumping, washing hands etc.; and for sensory skills, sensitive periods are characterized by the child’s sensorial experiences using the 5 senses. The sensitive period for social skills kicks in after a child turns 2 years old and can start making friends.

Per language, from 7 months to 3 years old, the sensitive period for spoken language kicks in as the child first creates sounds by mimicking mouth movements. Over time, this progresses as they learn to form words and simple sentences. Repetition aids cognitive development through speaking, reading and singing. This is such that each time a child revisits a book, they observe new details, comprehend complex concepts more deeply, and refine their language skills by internalizing vocabulary. Additionally, repeated exposure to a diverse range of stories broadens a child’s perspective and understanding on cultural literacy.

Summarily, sensitive periods are only temporary and fade once the aim is accomplished. The allure of repetition lies in its ability to transform ordinary stories into extraordinary mastery. Each experience births new discoveries and insights, enriching the experience with layers of meaning and significance. So, mama, if you have a toddler that is climbing the tables and chairs, (like mine) you’re not alone! And the next time your little one insists on reading the same book for the umpteenth time, remember that they are not merely seeking entertainment but embarking on a journey of exploration and growth. This is the way that children gain a sense of mastery and confidence about their world. Encourage them.

Let’s discuss, what sensitive period is your little one going through or have they gone through? How did you handle that phase?

Reference

Montessori Academy. 2024. How to Recognise and Support Sensitive Periods in your Child’s Development. Accessed on 25 March 2024. Available at https://montessoriacademy.com.au/how-to-recognise-and-support-sensitive-periods-in-your-childs-development/