Constructing Daily Routines: A Qualitative Examination of Mothers With Young Children With Disabilities

This qualitative research study explored the daily routines that mothers construct in response to the emerging self-care skills of their young children with disabilities. Over 2 months, data were collected from naturalistic observations and in-depth interviews of six mothers and their children. Ecocultural theory was used to examine the influence of ecological constraints and cultural values on the construction of routines. The daily occupations of these families were shaped by the simultaneous process of accommodating to ecocultural influences and anticipating future possibilities. A mother’s vision for her child’s future also played a pivotal role in determining whether emerging skills would be reinforced as a part of the home routines.