Examples of Family Routines
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Listed below are examples of routines and daily schedules of parents with toddlers and preschoolers. More information about rules is here. Some parents find it helpful to have extremely detailed schedules. Others find it helpful to have a general idea of the activities of the day. You can decide what will work best for you and your family. You may choose to use these as guides in creating your own routines and schedules.
- Family with a 3 and a half-year-old
- Family with 3 kids, twins age 4 and 2-year-old
- Mother of 17-month and 3-year-old sons
Family with a 3 and a half-year-old
Daily schedule
- Wake up around 6:20 a.m.
- Get out of bed by 6:30 a.m.
- Potty, get dressed, brush teeth, and leave by 6:50 a.m.
- Eat breakfast or a snack in the car
- Pick up from daycare around 4:00 p.m.
- Play time from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Prepare dinner around 5:00 p.m., eat around 5:45 p.m.
- Bath time around 6:30 p.m.
- Read or do something together, like a game or art project, around 7:00 p.m.
- Watch television from 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. to relax
- Potty and then to bed by 8:00 p.m.
- Quiet/asleep by 8:30 p.m..
Family with 3 kids, twins age 4 and 2-year-old
Daily schedule
- Wake up at 7:00 a.m. and have milk
- Cartoons until breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
- Get dressed for the day
- Snack at 10:00 a.m.
- Lunch at noon followed by nap at 12:30 p.m.
- Dinner at 5:30 p.m.
- Bath at 6:00 p.m., followed by books and a few songs in bedroom
- Lights off by 6:45 or 7:00 p.m.
Mother of 17-month and 3-year-old sons
Preschool days
7:30 - 8:00: get kids out of bed (they are usually already awake)
8:00: eat breakfast - no television
8:15: get kids dressed for preschool, brush teeth and hair, and play until 8:35
8:40: leave house for preschool
12:00: pick up kids from preschool
12:20: lunch and a book before nap
1:00: naptime (plan the afternoon during this time including starting dinner)
3:30 - 4:00: get up from nap and have a snack
4:00 - 5:15: play
5:30: watch a television show while mom cooks/finishes dinner
6:00 - 6:15: dinner
6:30: bathtime, brush teeth, and get pajamas on
7:00: watch a 10 minute show before bed
7:15: book and cuddle time
7:30 - 7:45: lights out
Non-preschool days:
8:00: get kids out of bed
8:30: eat breakfast
9:00 - 10:00: kids play inside or watch television while mom cleans up and gets ready for the day
10:15: get kids dressed and ready for any activities for the day
10:30: snack on the way to activity
10:30 - 12:15: activity
12:30: lunch
1:00 naptime
3:30 - 4:00: get up from nap and have a snack
4:00 - 5:15: play
5:30: watch a television show while mom cooks/finishes dinner
6:00 - 6:15: dinner
6:30: bath time, brush teeth, and get pajamas on
7:00: watch a 10 minute show before bed
7:15: book and cuddle time
7:30-7:45: lights out
- Page last reviewed: May 19, 2014
- Page last updated: May 19, 2014
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