Program encourages healthy routines
Staff writer
Tristen Cope is helping local families, and early child educators build stronger daily routines through a national curriculum, Fit and Healthy Kids.
For young children, understanding when one activity ends and another begins is more than just a classroom skill; it’s an essential part of learning and development.
“Routines are important to adults as well as young children because they provide a sense of security and give children control over their environment,” Cope said. “They help children learn what to expect at different times of the day, and in return feel pride and satisfaction when they can participate and perform those routines independently.”
The program, a collaboration between four land-grant universities and the Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral program, teaches young learners to recognize transitions between activities.
Cope teaches it as a family and youth development agent with K-State Extension in Marion County.
Transitions from cleaning up blocks to preparing for snack time give children a sense of order and predictability.
“Establishing routines and transitions is critical for healthy development,” Cope said. “When children know what comes next, the day feels smoother and more enjoyable, not just for them but for the caregivers and teachers as well.”
During training sessions, Cope shares real-life examples and shows parents and providers how simple tools like a classroom clock, dimming the lights, singing a song, or a brief movement activity can help children understand that one part of the day is ending and another is about to begin.
“One of my favorite parts of offering these trainings is giving hands-on, concrete examples,” she said. “Children can see, for instance, that when it’s 10 o’clock, it’s snack time. That kind of practical routine helps children feel secure, and it’s something parents and providers can adapt to their own home or child care environment.”
Transitions can include movement-based activities, such as tip-toeing, slow-motion walking, or short yoga breaks before naptime. Cope emphasizes the importance of letting children contribute to creating the transitions.
“When they find a connection to something they value, which gives them a sense of security, they’ll feel more comfortable and engage in deeper learning,” she said.
Looking ahead, Cope is hopeful that programs like Fit and Healthy Kids will continue to strengthen early childhood education in Marion County while supporting working rural families.
“My goal is to give providers and parents a unique way to learn something new and make abstract ideas real and concrete,” she said. “That’s when exceptional learning really takes place.”