title: Single mothers' views of young children's everyday routines: a focus group study.
abstract: Consistent daily routines have been associated with children's well-being, but children of single parents are less likely to engage in regular family meals or bedtime routines. This study explored routines and the challenges of maintaining routines as experienced by single mothers with a preschool age (3-5) child. Four focus groups (N = 12) were conducted and qualitative content analysis was used. Mothers described routines as an integral part of their parenting role and a reflection of successful parenting but maintaining routines around bedtimes and mealtimes were major concerns. Difficulties managing their child's behavior and their own fatigue were major challenges but mothers described a wide range of helpful strategies as well.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Nursing, New York, USA. Christina_Koulouglioti@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koulouglioti
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moskow
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology*; D012890:Sleep