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Inside: A free printable sample toddler schedule for your personal use to help you establish your toddler’s daily routine for less stress and more peace at home!
Dreaming of the day when you can set a daily toddler schedule that helps everyone in your house function?
That day is now, and the time is right! There is no better time than the present to make up a set schedule for your toddler to follow.
If you think it’s just pie in the sky, I can assure you it’s not.
Kids are a lot like adults. They thrive and grow when some structure is involved.
This means that by setting a few boundaries and actions, you can create an atmosphere for your toddler that will instill the importance of organization and planning from a very young age.
“With toddlers around, times are always interesting.”
~Beth Ann Fennelly
- Implementing a Daily Schedule for Your Toddler
- How do I get my toddler on a daily schedule?
- Establishing a Daily Toddler Schedule
- Parenting Tips for Creating Daily Routines For Your Toddler
- Major Takeaways from the Daily Toddler Routine and Sample
- What else would you add to your toddler’s daily schedule?
Implementing a Daily Schedule for Your Toddler
If you’re ready to learn the basics of implementing a daily schedule for your toddlers, these simple tips can help you accomplish just that.
First, let’s tackle these essential questions every new mom asks.
Yes, you should. If it’s possible to get them outdoors, do so. This will help them build up their immune system naturally while also helping them burn energy.
An hour of outdoor activities per day is a great goal, but even if you can only squeeze in 30 minutes at a time, that is still wonderful.
Get them outdoors during the morning hours when it’s cooler weather-wise and at the end of the day when the heat starts to wear off.
You’ll soon find out from your daily outing that your toddler will be less restless at night and will sleep for longer spurts.
A two-year-old toddler might nap once in the mid-morning and once in the afternoon, or only in the afternoon for a couple of hours.
We aim for 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day for little kids this age, so work that into your own schedule accordingly.
The importance of incorporating naps into your toddler’s daily routines can’t be overstated. Their tiny bodies require rest, re-energizing, and refocusing.
If you’re a parent who works from home, this is an excellent time to buckle down and get some work done.
Related articles about toddlers:
15+ Diaper Bag Essentials for your Toddler’s Busy Day Out
Clever Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Your Toddlers
How do I get my toddler on a daily schedule?
This is the million-dollar question!
Having your toddler on a daily schedule sounds fantastic, and you have what it takes to make it happen.
Filter through all the ways you can think of to know what motivates your toddler and what does not. I, myself, find that setting up a routine is a simpler way of living.
Visual schedule cards and picture cards are fantastic tools! They inform your toddler about what to expect throughout the day and assist them in developing healthy habits. This particular visual chart is an excellent example, especially since most toddlers can’t read yet!
There are also numerous free printable visual schedules and routine cards available online. You can just print them out, laminate or frame them, and then use a dry-erase marker for multiple uses.
Establishing a Daily Toddler Schedule
A daily schedule is a powerful tool! It can help you manage daily tasks with ease and avoid power struggles with your toddlers altogether. They are also an easy way to jumpstart your little ones into forming good habits and practical life skills.
What you’ll see below are examples of established daily schedules for toddlers. Please note that these are merely guides and are not one-size-fits-all models for your child.
Undoubtedly, every family, toddler, and daily needs are different and should be treated accordingly.
If you remember, the biggest reason for all these is to set a schedule that allows for structure. It really will help make the whole thing a lot less cumbersome.
Sample Toddler Schedule and Routine Appropriate for Stay-at-Home Moms
- 7:00 AM: Wake up, go potty, and wash hands
- 7:15 AM: Enjoy breakfast together at the table
- 7:45 AM: Get dressed for the day and read books
- 8:30 AM: Playtime
- 9:45 AM: Go potty and wash hands
- 10:00 AM: Eat a morning snack and have lots of snuggles
- 10:30 AM: Watch an educational morning show
- 11:00 AM: Draw or do crafts
- 11:45 AM: Go potty and wash hands
- Noon: Eat lunch
- 12:45 PM: Head outside to play (or switch this to the morning hours during the hot days)
- 1:45 PM: Come inside for a quiet time, clean up, and get ready for a nap
- 2:00 PM: Nap
- 4:00 PM: Wake up, go potty, wash hands, and have some snacks
- 4:45 PM: Time for some physical activities again
- 5:45 PM: Watch some educational shows
- 6:45 PM: Get ready for supper
- 7:00 PM: Suppertime
- 7:30 PM: Bedtime routine (bathing, brushing teeth, reading bedtime books, etc.)
- 8:00 PM: Sleep
Sample Toddler Schedule for the Stay-at-Home Mom (Printable PDF)
You can download this Stay-at-Home Mom Daily Toddler Schedule Template for free without signing up for my email list. Use this as a starting point for your toddler’s morning routine chart and individual schedule. You decide!
As you can see, this sample toddler schedule is pretty laid out and easy to navigate. I have broken it up into 30-minute to 1-hour sections, but you can do smaller increments of time or more significant ones.
You and I most likely have different needs. Simply modify it to include your routine tasks, and you’re ready to go!
You can also tweak your schedule depending on the days of the week. You could choose only a morning routine or an afternoon schedule! It’s all up to your individual needs.
When it all comes down to it, having some schedule and structure for the day is better than having no structure at all. Structure helps you with better time management.
Daily Toddler Schedule for Moms Working Office Hours
Tweak this schedule to your liking. Again, be reminded that this is only an example:
- 6:00 AM: Wake up, go potty, and wash hands
- 6:15 AM: Eat breakfast and get dressed for the day
- 6:45 AM: Leave for daycare
Important Note: Ensure the state licenses your toddler’s daycare provider. That way, you will rest assured that your kids are safe, knowing their daycare follows state regulations.
- 5:00 PM: Head home with Mom or Dad
- 5:30 PM: Go potty, wash hands, and have lots of snuggles
- 6:00 PM: A little screen time to watch some educational shows
- 6:30 PM: Get ready for supper
- 7:00 PM: Suppertime
- 7:30 PM: Bedtime routine (bathing, brushing teeth, reading bedtime books, etc.)
- 8:00 PM: Sleep
As simple as this looks, it is never easy. The reason is that your toddler is more independent now and realizes he can do whatever he pleases.
Sample Daily Toddler Schedule and Routine Chart for Working Moms
Taking care of young children can be overwhelming. Visit our “Freebies” page and download free printables specially created for moms with littles.
Related article about toddlers: 7 Enriching Indoor Activities for your Toddlers
Parenting Tips for Creating Daily Routines For Your Toddler
The hardest part about creating a schedule and sticking to it is overcoming the obstacles that will pop up and derail your success.
Just know that no matter what, this is going to happen.
I firmly believe that keeping an open mind is a significant factor in accomplishing a thriving toddler schedule that will work regularly.
Remember that you might need to adjust your schedule some days to accommodate a visitor or activities in town that you want to attend as a family.
Be flexible in your schedule
Even if you want to stick to a strict schedule, being adaptable will eventually benefit you.
A solid schedule for your toddler is critical, but you must also be realistic and allow for some wiggle room.
This empowers you to be kinder to yourself and your toddler when things don’t go as planned on certain days.
Adjust the schedule as needed
If this year has taught us anything, it is that life is unpredictable and will always change.
That is, even if you have a plan for the day, week, or month, something will happen that is beyond your control and force you to change course completely.
When this happens, pivot, adjust, and move forward.
If you don’t, you’ll find yourself in what I like to call “comparison chaos,” where it appears that everyone has their “stuff” together but you. (And we all know that’s not the case!)
Get your Toddler Involved in Making His Schedule
There are several ways to involve your little one in their daily routine. Here are two you can try out:
- Brainstorm what they want with them. Little kids have curious minds. You’ll be surprised at the things they can think of. (or)
- Give them options. Let them choose among the activities they love to include in their schedule. This is a great way to teach them the importance of making choices as well! Win-win!
Major Takeaways from the Daily Toddler Routine and Sample
Always keep in mind three things that you should consider when establishing a good routine for your toddler:
- First, be flexible.
- Secondly, adjust as you see fit.
- Lastly, get your toddlers involved.
As you can see, creating a daily toddler schedule can be done quickly.
Eventually, you adopt a proactive approach to organizing your daily activities and avoid reactive behavior altogether. Aside from that, you stay on top of your to-do list and avoid unnecessary stress.
Predictable routines will also give your child a sense of stability, letting them know what to expect throughout the day.
Picture schedules are outstanding visual supports for young children. The clear pictures help them understand what needs to be done, as most of them lack reading skills yet.
This free printable toddler schedule template is primarily for you, so you can at least provide a little structure to your day, especially with little kids running around.
What else would you add to your toddler’s daily schedule?
If you have a valuable trick up your sleeve, leave a comment below.
Please go ahead and share this with your mama friends as well!
Just hang in there, Mama! Enjoy your new routine! You’ve got this!
Talk to you soon,
Related article about toddlers: How to Make Long Road Trips Fun for your Toddlers [And Actually Get Through Them]
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