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Spring is traditionally a time for clearing out cupboards, decluttering our homes and getting rid of things we no longer need. But while we’re busy refreshing our physical spaces, there’s another area of our lives that could benefit from a little spring cleaning – our family routines.
For Sesame Workshop South Africa, home of Takalani Sesame, everyday moments offer opportunities for playful learning and connection. The focus is not on creating a perfect family schedule, but on helping caregivers make space for children to talk, explore and play within the routines they already have. According to Mari Payne, Deputy Managing Director and Senior Director, Education and Programmes at Sesame Workshop, spring offers an opportunity for parents and caregivers to reassess how their families spend their time, what’s working and what might need to change.
“Each spring, I take the spirit of spring cleaning into different areas of my life. I consider what is no longer serving my family and readjust accordingly,” explains Payne. “One of the biggest challenges parents and caregivers face is achieving balance between work, household responsibilities, school activities and family time. It’s easy to get caught up in a particular pace and way of doing things without stopping to consider whether it’s actually working for the family.”
With the final months of the year bringing additional work pressures, school commitments, exams and end-of-year activities, Payne believes now is a particularly valuable time to take stock. “By this point in the year, families have often settled into routines that they simply follow without questioning. But just because something has become a habit doesn’t necessarily mean it’s serving us well. Sometimes a few small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.”
Recognising when your family needs a reset
Not every pressure can be solved by changing a routine. Work shifts, long journeys, financial strain and shared living spaces can limit the choices available to families. A reset is not a judgement on how a household manages; it is an invitation to find one small moment of connection that fits its circumstances, with whichever trusted caregivers are part of the child’s life.
Payne explains that routines can give children structure and predictability, but a rushed or tense day is a reason to pause and notice what support the family needs—not proof that its routine is wrong. Younger children may become more upset, seek extra closeness, struggle with sleep or resist everyday activities for many reasons. Parents and caregivers may also notice impatience, repeated instructions or more time spent managing schedules than connecting. Looking at these patterns together can help families identify a manageable adjustment without blaming themselves or the child.
“One difficult day doesn’t mean your family routine isn’t working. But when everyone seems constantly rushed, tired or frustrated, it’s worth asking whether the way you’re spending your time is contributing to that pressure,” says Payne.
She suggests revisiting some of the intentions families may have set at the beginning of the year.
“Perhaps you wanted to spend more time outdoors, be more active as a family or simply enjoy more quality time together. Are you actually doing those things? And if not, what’s getting in the way?”
Importantly, a family reset isn’t about introducing an entirely new schedule or adding more activities. Often, it’s about identifying what can be simplified or removed to create space for the things that matter most. Small changes can make a meaningful difference.
One area Payne encourages families to examine is the quality of the time they spend together.
“It’s easy to assume that because we’re all at home together, we’re spending quality time as a family. But being in the same room doesn’t necessarily mean we’re connecting, particularly when screens and other distractions are competing for our attention.”
Payne suggests a practical option is a short period of device-free play after supper or before bedtime. “Devices can be put away while a child chooses a simple activity, such as drawing, building or imaginative play, and a caregiver joins in.” Making room for device-free play does not mean all screen experiences are the same. “Watching age-appropriate educational content such as Takalani Sesame together can also create a starting point for connection: talk about what a character did, retell the story or try a related game away from the screen,” says Payne.
The activity need not require additional resources. A few minutes of shared play can create space to notice what a child enjoys, listen to their ideas and hear anything they want to share. The aim is connection, not another task to complete.
Play offers a natural opportunity for responsive, back-and-forth exchanges: a child says or does something, and a caring adult notices and responds. Naming what the child is doing, listening to an idea or taking turns in a game can support language, learning, creativity and the expression and management of feelings.
“Parents sometimes feel pressure to organise special activities or dedicate large amounts of time to entertaining their children. But meaningful connection doesn’t need to be complicated. Even 10 or 15 minutes of uninterrupted, child-led play can be valuable,” says Payne.
Children also need unstructured downtime: opportunities to play, explore or simply have a quiet moment. For some families, organised activities, school commitments and screens leave little space for this. For others, a busy household or an unpredictable day can make downtime difficult. These quieter moments can offer space for independence and imagination without becoming another activity for caregivers to organise.
Five questions to guide your family reset
Payne suggests parents and caregivers set aside a few minutes to reflect on the following:
- Are our routines working for us? Consider whether mornings, mealtimes and bedtimes are predictable and manageable, or whether certain parts of the day consistently create stress.
- Where is our time going? Where could a small moment of connection fit? Look for an opportunity within the day you already have, rather than adding another task. If 15 minutes of scrolling is a habit you want to change, that time could become a game or a shared story. On a busy day, talking or singing together during an existing routine may be more realistic.
- Are we making enough time to connect? Think about whether the family has regular opportunities to talk, play and enjoy one another’s company without distractions.
- Are we allowing enough time for rest? Consider whether everyone is getting sufficient sleep and whether children have opportunities for free play and downtime.
What could we change together to make life easier? Identify one or two pressure points and choose a simple adjustment. Ask children what they enjoy, what feels rushed and what they would like to do more of. Younger children can share their preferences through simple choices, play or showing you what they enjoy.
Payne emphasises that the key is to start small and make changes that are realistic for each family’s circumstances. “A reset should reduce pressure, not become another thing parents feel they have to get right. You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine. Sometimes it’s as simple as putting your phone away for a few minutes, making bedtime more predictable or deciding that one afternoon a week will be free of activities.”
And just as spring cleaning isn’t about replacing everything in your home, a family reset isn’t about abandoning everything that’s familiar. “It’s about keeping what works, letting go of what doesn’t and making a little more room for the moments that matter.”
For more ideas for playful learning and shared moments, explore Takalani Sesame’s website and YouTube channel. Choose a story or activity that interests your child, then use it as a starting point to talk, play and connect.
About Sesame Workshop South Africa
Sesame Workshop International South Africa is the impact nonprofit whose mission is to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger and kinder. For over 25 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich young minds and expand hearts in service of empowering each generation to build a better world.
Our beloved characters, iconic shows, direct services and community outreach bring playful early learning to children through the families, caregivers, ECD centres, educators and partners who support their development. Takalani Sesame, the South African adaptation of Sesame Street, launched in 2000 and has reached millions of young children to date.
Follow Sesame Workshop International South Africa and Takalani Sesame on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and via the website.
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