After lunch is a good time to set the stage for napping success by making the environment calm.Ĭlose some curtains, play soft music, bring out a few good books, and let your child start to relax. Chances are, your younger toddler will still be taking naps. 12 to 1 p.m.: Lunch and wind downĬhow down on some lunch.

On other days, you can fill in this time with art projects, playdates, or other appointments and errands like grocery shopping. Slot out an hour in your morning for planned activities. You may have a library story hour one day or a gymnastics class the next. to 12 p.m.: Planned activity or errandsĮach day in your week won’t be exactly the same. Consider doing some family yoga or getting the giggles out by switching on your favorite music and having a dance party. If the weather is less than ideal, you can get moving indoors, too.

It may even strengthen their immune systems. You don’t need a trail or fancy equipment to make outdoor time fun for toddlers - even your own backyard can provide an environment for exploration and activity.Įxperts say that along with getting some much-needed fresh air, being in nature may help reduce stress and depression in toddlers and older children. Head out to a nearby park or playground to get some exercise.

tinkering with sticks, rocks, or a cardboard boxġ0 to 11 a.m.: Outdoor time, exercise, etc.

playing with dress-up clothes or play scarves.

Researchers say that children even engage more with their caregivers when play isn’t structured for them.Įxamples of free play (unstructured play or open-ended play) to fill this time slot might include: It gives them freedom of expression and lets them experiment with language and imagination. Unstructured playtime is crucial for toddler development. Toddlers love playtime, but did you know there are at least 6 different types of play? So, let your little one help pour milk into their cereal from a small cup or give them a rag to wipe down the table with when you’re done eating.Īfter breakfast is an excellent time to run around the house doing a few necessary chores, like tossing in a load of laundry, tidying up bedrooms, or vacuuming the playroom.

Toddlers love helping out with meal preparation and age-appropriate chores. 8 to 9 a.m.: Eat breakfast and clean upįirst and foremost, you’ll want to prepare and eat the most important meal of the day. Adjust the start of your day accordingly. It’s typical for toddlers to wake anytime between 6:30 and 8 a.m., give or take a few. Following a schedule each day may actually help, though researchers say that wake times should be relatively consistent in individual children.Īnd if you’re laughing that your child wakes up much earlier than 7:30 a.m. Your little one may have other ideas when it comes to a regular wake time. It can take some time to get into a good flow.

If things aren’t clicking into place immediately, don’t fret. That said, the whole point of a schedule is to get a rhythm in your days, so you’ll want to keep things relatively stable from day to day, week to week. Feel free to mix up the order of things, within reason and as they make sense with your daily obligations. However, you should use this sample schedule only as a guide and make modifications as they fit your lifestyle. You may be eager to follow a schedule - any schedule - so you can get some order to your days. Schedules may help nip those pesky temper tantrums right in the bud! When tots have a framework for the day, they feel more comfortable expressing this budding independence and may even go through transitions (leaving the park, going down for a nap, etc.) with less protest. Toddlers are especially capable and, at times, demanding because they want to do things (OK, all the things) on their own. Instead of wondering what’s next, a child can focus on learning and mastering new skills. When kids know what’s coming up in their day, there’s order and familiarity. Perhaps even more interesting is that bedtime routines support children’s overall development and sense of well-being.Įxperts share that schedules create a sense of safety and confidence because they make a child’s environment predictable. And this isn’t just some new parenting tip it’s actually backed by science.įor example, in 2018, researchers who reviewed studies on bedtime routines in young children found that sticking to a schedule (snack, bath and brushing teeth, reading stories, cuddling) appeared to promote better nighttime sleep. Children - even young toddlers - thrive on routines.

Infant daycare daily schedule