Schedules are great tools. They give your child routine and consistency. In this article I will talk about: five reasons why schedules are not only important for children but for you also; I will give you an example schedule to help you get your own schedule started, and reality.
1) Routine takes out a lot of planning.
This means one less thing for you to deal with. Planning. Who has time for another thing on their plate? Not me!
2) Schedules lessen anxiety.
Your child knows what to expect next, and so do you! Sometimes they even look forward to it! This creates a happy stress free environment.
3) It helps us prioritize and get things done.
If you’re like me getting things done seem impossible with a toddler. A schedule helps us entertain our toddler and get things done.
Check out more on how to entertain your toddler here
4) Builds self confidence
Studies have shown a daily schedule can improve your child’s confidence. When they know what to expect it helps them feel confident.
5) Builds momentum
With a daily schedule things get done faster. Your child knows what to expect and isn’t freaking out when you go to wash the dishes, or take forever to get ready to go to Grandmas.
Here are two examples schedules that you can use for yourself or inspiration
- 7:00-7:30 breakfast
- 7:30-8:00 daily devotional/independent play time
- 8:00-9:00 outing/stroller walk
- 9:00-9:30 book time
- 9:30-10:00 clean kitchen, snack time
- 10:00-11:30 nap time, clean house
- 11:30-12:00 one on one play time
- 12:00-12:30 lunch
- 12:30-1:30 outdoor time
- 1:30-2:00 independent play time/work project
- 2:00-2:30 book time
- 2:30-3:00 one on one play time
- 3:00-3:30 snack time
- 3:30-4:00 independent play time/write
- 4:00-4:30 independent book time/start dinner
- 4:30-5:00 screen time/finish dinner
- 5:00-5:30 dinner
- 5:30-6:30 family time
- 6:30-7:00 baby bath
- 7:00-7:30 baby bedtime
- 7:30-8:00 clean house
- 8:00-9:30 tv time/hubby time
- 9:30-10:00 shower
- 10:00 bedtime
Or
- 5:00-5:30 breakfast
- 5:30-6:00 independent play time/morning devotional
- 6:00-6:30 daddy time
- 6:30-7:00 independent book time
- 7:00-7:30 one on one play time
- 7:30-8:30 walk
- 8:30-9:00 snack
- 9:00-10:30 nap time/clean
- 10:30-11:00 one on one play time
- 11:00-11:30 independent play time/work project
- 11:30-12:00 lunch time
- 12:00-1:00 outside time
- 2:00-2:30 book time/quite time
- 2:30-3:00 one on one play time
- 3:00-4:00 nap time work project
- 4:00-4:30 independent play time/start dinner
- 4:30-5:00 screen time/finish dinner
- 5:00-5:30 dinner time
- 5:30-6:30 family time
- 6:30-7:00 baby bath time
- 7:00-7:30 baby bedtime
- 7:30-8:00 clean
- 8:00-9:00 tv/hubby time
- 9:00-9:30 shower
- 9:30 bedtime
Reality
The idea of everything going according to schedule is great, but not reality. There is no guarantee your child will fall asleep exactly when you want and I definitely wouldn’t wake them up if they slept over. So what do you do? Be flexible. Life is not going to go to plan. A schedule is like an outline. Yes follow it! But if it needs a paragraph or two longer than the others (or you need to cut it out completely) go with it!
I hope this article inspires you and if it did check out my other channels as well!
The Modern Christian Mom 