Starting elementary school is a major milestone, but it can be a difficult transition as children can experience separation anxiety or have trouble adapting to school rules and structure. However, a team led by Penn State researchers found that consistent routines in the home can reduce the likelihood that children will struggle with the school transition.
In a publication in Developmental Psychology, the researchers found that when rural, low-income families had stronger routines - such as regular bedtimes and shared meals - parents reported lower levels of behavior problems and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms from their children. However, higher levels of harsh or aggressive parenting - such as yelling or threatening by the mother or father - diminished the benefits associated with household structure.
