How to Create a Toddler Daily Schedule that Works

With the presence of COVID-19 and Quarantine, I decided to take a look at this old post on a toddler daily schedule and see if it needed some updating. Let me tell you – my own toddler’s daily schedule is nowhere near what it used to be. That goes to show that we need to evaluate things as time goes on. 

My previous schedule included a 9-10 am wake up time (that sure doesn’t happen anymore!) and an 8 pm bedtime. Bedtime around here is between 7 and 7:30 – if my kids are still up at 8, I find myself losing patience. Without a schedule, I’d be without patience more often than not!

What Does Our Toddler Daily Schedule Look Like?

Since starting homeschool preschool, our Monday- Thursday looks different from our Friday- Sunday. With COVID stopping us from going anywhere, we’ve also had to work on including various activities that can be done from home. Our current Monday- Thursday schedule is as below:

8:30: Wake Up/ Quick Morning Routine

8:45- 9:15: Breakfast

9:15- 10: Homeschool Preschool First Session

10- 11:30: Free Play/ Laundry

11:30 – 12:15: Lunch

12:15- 1:00: Homeschool Preschool Second Session

1:00- 1:45: Household Chores

1:45- 3:15: Nap/ Reading/ Music

3:15- 4:15: Outside Play

4:15- 5:00: Homeschool Preschool Third Session

5:00- 6:00: Screen Time/ Make Dinner

6:00- 6:45 Dinner

6:45- 7:15 Bath/ Bedtime Routine

7:15: Bedtime

Previously, we would work in trips to the library or park, but we are still playing it safe with the Coronavirus. For now, we take a walk around the neighborhood or play basketball in the (tiny) backyard. When life goes back to normal – it has to happen eventually, right? – we’ll probably make a few changes.

What’s So Great About a Schedule?

A daily schedule has many benefits. As parents, it can help to reduce stress if we have a plan. It isn’t imperative that we follow the schedule down to the minute, but it can help a lot having an outline. For toddlers, a schedule offers even better benefits. 

Confidence and Comfort in Little Ones

A toddler can find comfort in regular, expected, day to day activities. When he or she knows what’s approaching, it is easier for them to be ready for it. My own kids, each of whom are approaching their 2nd and 4th birthdays, know exactly when we do school activities. They look forward to it!

They also know when to expect time to play outside. I am not a morning person, so they know that playing outside is an afternoon activity. I’m so not prepared to chase around balls before noon! Both of my kids have gained confidence in how the day is supposed to go because of our routine. 

Easier Bedtimes for Toddlers

Bedtime is not usually a struggle for us. They know that after dinner is when we start our bedtime routine. When it’s time to say goodnight, that’s it. There’s no fight, there’s no arguing or tears. 

Our 3 year old gets in his bed and falls asleep quickly. Our 22 month old typically needs Daddy to fall asleep, but she knows it’s time to settle down and go to sleep. It’s part of their normal. 

Tantrums are Less Frequent

In having a set schedule, temper tantrums are far less frequent. Of course, toddlers are still toddlers and tantrums will still happen. With a schedule, there are far fewer opportunities for them to occur. 

For example, if my son wants to watch TV, I only have to ask him what time we are allowed to turn on the TV. There is no fight about it, he simply answers, “After five o’clock.” We stick to it and he knows that unless someone is sick or something special is going on, the TV will not be on before 5. 

How Can I Start a Routine for my Child?

Should you just wake up one day and start a new routine? Personally, I feel that it is easier to introduce the routine to your child(ren) before it actually starts. About a week prior to starting preschool at home, I would mention daily, “We’re starting school on Monday!” It got my 3 year old mentally prepared for the change. 

Give it a few days to sink in – especially if it’s a big change from your usual days. Preparing your child for the change is a great way to avoid big meltdowns or complete confusion. Write it all out and explain that changes are coming. Be gentle when there are challenges in accepting the new routine. It can take some time to adjust!

Tips on Creating a Daily Schedule

How do you create a daily schedule? My number one tip is don’t try to fit your life into someone else’s mold. I cannot tell you how many schedules I see with the day starting at 6 am – I am not a morning person and no amount of adjusting or sleeping can make me one. 

So, I don’t start my day at 6 am. I start it at 8:30 (luckily, my kids like to sleep in, too!). Does that make me a lazy mom? Nope! We just get things done differently than other houses. And that’s okay. 

There are some other important things to consider when developing your own schedule. Predictability, yet also flexibility, is imperative. As is scheduling components outside of taking care of your kids. 

Remain Predictable, But Build in Flexibility

How can you be predictable, but flexible at the same time? For me, it means scheduling longer than it takes to complete an activity. It rarely takes me an hour to make dinner, but I schedule in an hour just in case something else comes up.

If school takes longer than I’d planned for, I don’t force my kids to hurry up. Instead, we use the built-in buffer that many of the schedule items have. My kids rarely nap because they sleep 12-13 hours at night, so nap time or quiet time doesn’t have to last the full hour and a half. Knowing where you have extra time can be helpful!

Schedule in Time for Household Chores

Your schedule shouldn’t only include your toddler’s activities! While he or she is doing something independently, write in your chore to get accomplished at the same time. 

My 3 year old loves to dust, so while he’s dusting, I can wipe down my kitchen counters and clean the bathroom. He also loves to vacuum, so he gets the baseboards with the handheld vacuum while I go around with the big one. Schedule it and it is more likely to get done!

How Should I Include Naps or Screen Time?

Naps are hard to schedule because we are never really sure exactly how long our little ones are going to sleep. I know my 22 month old can sleep 30 minutes, 2 hours, or not at all. I tend to leave an hour and a half on my schedule. That way, even if she doesn’t nap at all or naps shorter than this, I have some of that buffer time that we talked about a few sections ago. 

Nap Time vs Quiet Time

Do you have to have nap time or quiet time on your schedule? No, not necessarily. My 3 year old very rarely naps, so he usually reads or plays independently if his sister is napping. It can be a good idea to include quiet time so that you have that space if your child decides to nap. 

Plus, quiet time can give moms a break, too! With two kids 3 and under in the house, things can get LOUD. So, when we do put on some quiet music and sit down with books and blankets on the couch, there is a good period of time for me to enjoy the near-silence. It’s especially rejuvenating when I’m having a hard day. 

How Early Should We Wake Up?

Although I touched on this previously, I think it’s important to reinforce it: everyone’s schedule does not need to be the same! God made us all different, so let the people that are able to get up early do so. I’ll be the one sleeping until my kids wake me up at 8:30!

That’s an improvement though – when our son was our only child, he slept until at least 9:30-10 most mornings. We’ve had to adjust as he’s gotten older and we’ve added to the family. 

What is an Appropriate Bedtime?

This is also one that is dependent on your family. When I was still working outside of the home, I typically worked until 7. This meant that dinner was later, bath time was later, and bedtime was later. I often had to drive 25 minutes from work to pick up my boy from my in-laws and then drive 25 minutes back home (it worked with a wonderful mother-in-law that fed us dinner most of the time!). 

When this was our schedule, my son wouldn’t get to bed until 9:30 most nights. Now that I work from home, I have more freedom in choosing his bedtime. I’ve learned that my kids don’t usually make it past 11 or 12 hour days, especially when they don’t nap. Determine how much sleep your child really needs and calculate bedtime from there!

How Much Sleep Does My Toddler Need?

Toddlers and children, in general, require more sleep than adults. The Sleep Foundation says that a 1-2 year old toddler needs 11-14 hours of sleep per day. A 3-year-old needs 10-13. 

 

4-11 months	12-15 hours
1-2 years	11-14 hours
3-5 years	10-13 hours

A 3 year old that wakes up at 7:30 am and doesn’t nap would need a bedtime of 7:30 pm to get 12 hours of sleep. If that same 3 year old regularly naps, it may be that he/ she doesn’t need to be in bed until 8:30. Calculate your child’s needs and determine the best bedtime for you and for him/ her. 

What if My Toddler Hates the Schedule?

Ahhh, so your little one isn’t a fan of schedules. It’s totally normal for a toddler to struggle with a new schedule. Maybe there are just certain things on the schedule that he/ she is not a fan of. Try to identify if tantrums or the schedule breaks down at a certain time of day. Is it during independent playtime? Is it while you’re reading? 

When you understand which parts of the schedule your tot doesn’t like, you can work to improve them. 

How to Get My Child to Play Alone

Sometimes young kids hate doing anything alone. My oldest was like this for a while, although he got much better with independence the more he tried it! He would be playing cars in his room and I would go to start a load of laundry – both doors were open and I could hear him playing as the rooms were right next to each other. It wouldn’t be 2 minutes before he was waddling into the laundry room with me.

Remember that your child spent a lot of time in your tummy. Whether he/ she is 9 months old or 2 years old, it can be confusing to feel completely alone. Always start alone playtime by staying right there with your child. Eventually, you may be able to step away for a minute to start that load of laundry. A firm toddler daily schedule can help to develop independence!

BUT – don’t just throw them in the deep end and expect them to swim!

What Should I Schedule to Include Fun?

If your child hates doing certain activities on the schedule, work to make them fun! If you’re reading together, use fun voices and expressive body language. Or, if you are cleaning up all the toys before bedtime, make a game out of it! 

You should also make sure that there are more than just “productive” items on your schedule. If you and your child are doing chores for the majority of the day (extreme example, maybe), it is easy to see why he/ she is having a hard time enjoying the schedule. Try mixing things up with a fun activity every once in a while!

Fun and Easy Activities

There are so many things that kids can explore and have fun with at home! Try doing some arts and crafts together – my kiddo just made a book explaining the 7 days of creation and he had so much fun with it! 

Try reading aloud and acting out the parts. My kids love it when I get up with silly voices and act all goofy. It makes for a good way to break up the monotony of the predictable days. 

You can also make an obstacle course in the yard (weather permitting) or build a fort in the living room. Find fun things to do together and you might find your little one enjoys his/ her scheduled days!

Get a Free Printable Toddler Daily Schedule PDF