Daily Routines for Children

Always take time to stop and smell the roses
during daily routines for children

            I cannot express enough how well it will help you to have daily routines for children of all ages.  When your kids know what to expect, they are more likely to cooperate with you.  This means less time wasted on arguing, and more time getting things accomplished.  This is not to say that you cannot deviate from the schedule for special events or if someone is sick.  You will find that your child may even listen better to you when doing things that are out of the norm if you are following a schedule on a regular basis. 

            A schedule for your child or children must be arranged carefully to consider some important factors.  The most important of these is to remember what your child likes to do.  If your kiddo enjoys quiet play like reading and puzzles, you probably do not want to comprise the whole day with vigorous activities.  The exact opposite is to be said about a child that wants to run all day long and hates to sit down.  My point being, you want to include exercise for your bookworm and calming activities for your little athlete, but you do not want to overload them with activities that they won’t enjoy.

Daily Routines for Children

9:00 – 10:00 AM: Breakfast, TV time, and brush teeth

10:00 – 10:30 AM: Dancercise

10:30 – 11:30 AM: Coloring, puzzles, flashcards, and story time

11:30 – 12:00 PM: Playing with toys while Mommy fixes lunch

12:00 – 12:30 PM: Lunch

12:30 – 2:00 PM: Naptime

2:00 – 3:00 PM: Outside playtime if weather permits

3:00 – 4:00 PM: Crafts

4:00 – 5:00 PM: Playing with toys while Mommy fixes dinner

5:00 – 5:30 PM: Dinnertime

5:30 – 6:00 PM: Play a game

6:00 – 6:30 PM: Learning (numbers, shapes, colors, and letters)

6:30 – 7:00 PM: Clean up and TV time

7:00 – 7:30 PM: Bath and brush teeth

7:30 – 8:00 PM: Read a story, sing a song, and lights out

Julia taking time for self-play 

            When preparing a schedule, you have to include time for individual play and constructive play, meaning they need time to play by themselves and time to play alongside you.  Make sure there are both calming activities and exciting physical activities.  Give your child a chance to develop their motor skills with coloring and crafts.  Help them to learn their ABC’s and numbers by singing songs or using flash cards or magnets.  Develop their listening skills by playing games such as Simon says, or Mother May I.  You can copy one from the internet or write up your own.  The most important thing to remember when preparing routines for children of your own is to let your child be a kid.