Something in the air shifted this week. The mornings are cooler, the leaves are starting to turn, and basically every family I have seen in the office this week has said some version of the same thing: everyone is tired and a little off. Naps have gone out the window the sniffles are making their rounds. We are officially in the season change.
If your household feels a little unsteady right now, I want you to know that is completely normal. And it actually leads perfectly into this week's topic.
Creating Pegs Instead Routines
We hear a lot about the importance of routines for kids. Predictability helps the nervous system feel safe. But here is the thing nobody talks about: strict schedules can actually backfire.
When the whole routine falls apart because one thing shifted, it creates stress for everyone, parents included.
This is where the idea of pegs comes in.
So what is a peg? It is a consistent anchor point in the day or within an activity. Instead of mapping out every hour, you identify three to five moments that happen in the same order and with the same feel every single day. The time can flex. The peg stays.
Why pegs work better than strict schedules for young kids
The nervous system is not a clock. It does not need every minute accounted for. What it needs is to be able to predict what comes next in moments that matter. Pegs give the brain those landmarks without requiring the whole day to go according to plan.
What do pegs look like in real life? A silly handshake or secret squeeze before drop off, five minutes of free movement; jumping, rolling, running before anything structured after school, a transition ritual before leaving the house; shoes on while singing the same song.
And on the hard days, the sick days, the travel days, the days when everything goes sideways, you still have your pegs. A familiar song at bedtime does not care what kind of day it was.
This Week's Freebie
The Brain Blossom Play and Connect Guides include simple, age-appropriate activities designed to support nervous system development through connection and play. If you are building pegs into your day and want ideas for what to fill them with, these guides are a wonderful place to start.
Warmly,
Dr. Emma
