Ask Sarah: How to Survive Without Routine

Struggling with tantrums, bedtime boundaries, or simply wondering how to raise happy, confident kids? Sarah Rosensweet offers peaceful parenting advice to help families find balance.

Have a question for Sarah? Send us an email at editors@todaysparent.com.

Q: My seven and three-year-old are unravelling with the lack of routine this summer and are constantly telling me they are bored.

We’re at the point where all the big plans have happened, and the days are getting harder and harder to fill. Is extra screen time and basic survival through the day okay, or will that make it even harder come September?

A: I am not the screen police. If you feel you need to use it to get work done or preserve your sanity, I won’t judge you.

The more you rely on screens to entertain kids, the harder it is for them to think of things to do independently and play independently.

When my kids were little and said they were bored, I would often invite them to join me to help with whatever I was doing or suggest a chore. They would usually grumble and then find something else to do.

A little boredom never hurt anyone- it provides the space they need to figure out something to play with.

Sarah Rosensweet is a certified peaceful parenting coach, speaker, and educator. She lives in Toronto with her husband and her 15 and 18-year-old kids. Her 22-year-old son has launched.

Peaceful parenting is a non-punitive, connection-based approach that uses firm limits with lots of empathy. Sarah works one-on-one virtually with parents all over the world to help them go from frustrated and overwhelmed to “we’ve got this!”