A Schedule for Children at Home
Preparing a daily schedule for children at home is an excellent idea.
As a stay at home parent to small children one of the most challenging things in our home was coming up with a daily schedule that provided for learning, growing, resting, and a bit of private time…for mommy.
Even if you aren’t stay at home mom providing a schedule for your children at the times you’re all together at home is ideal.
Related Post : Big List of Thing To Do at Home
Start by breaking your child’s day down into sections.
If you haven’t figure it out yet children thrive on routines.
Children receive comfort in knowing what comes next. They don’t like surprises unless it’s a birthday party. I see it every day in my own dear child. And as she’s now of writing and reasoning age she makes her lists to chronicle her days. And she LOVES to know what’s next.
Have you every talked to a small child? They barrage you with, “And then what?”, “Can you tell me what is next?” They like to plan.
So let’s help your small ones out and think up a flexible routine to move smoothly (as possible) through the day.
Plan the Morning
What happens in your mornings? Are they relaxed or frazzled? Do you get up before your children so you can have some peaceful time (so important)?
Planning for your mornings can mean the whole day runs a lot smoother. If this is an area where you struggle I recommend the easy to implement Make Over Your Mornings eCourse. Just 15 minutes a day can make a world of difference.
So now that you’re taken care of what about the morning for your children?
Do you prepare breakfast or is it a family affair? Is this an area where you struggle? Breakfast does not have to be a gourmet meal but it is the most important part of the day.
I usually do best when I plan breakfast in advance.
Some breakfasts ideas for you:
Let’s move on to what children can do for themselves in the morning.
Are your children old enough to dress themselves? Or do you need to lay out clothing the night before?
When your children are small you may find most of your morning is taken up with getting them ready for the day. By the time you’re ready for some activity it can be noon but don’t fret. This period in life goes quickly. Enjoy it and give them cuddles. Your friend and family will understand if you’re a little late to things. And if they don’t. Well..poo!
After your child is ready for the day with food and dress this is an optimal time to engage with your little children in meaningful activity. Get the wiggles out, do something creative, tackle a project together.
Visit the Homemaking Downloads section for a Child’s Daily Schedule template.
After Breakfast Morning Activities:
- Take a Walk
- Dance around the living room
- Water Play
- Sand Play
- Playdough
- Circle Time
If your children are old enough for preschool it’s a good time to put in an hour or so of early learning. We loved using BJUPress Homeschool with our daughter during her early learning years (p.s. – We still use BJUPress products)
Rest up in the Afternoons
When the afternoon arrives it can be time for everyone to take a break, eat something yummy, get out of doors, and possibly even run errands.
Remember these are the youngers so you don’t have go back to the books after your afternoon break. In fact it’s probably best to slow things down and have a rest period.
When my daughter was younger this was nap time. When she outgrew naps this was read quietly in your room time. I love my baby but mom needs a break too.
Whatever you do have a plan and a set amount of time. It’s tempting to let the afternoon rest period drag on but that makes bed time harder so take my tip and get back to something.
Family Time for the Evenings
Your day has been busy and fruitful. You started the day organized because you got your morning together before the house awoke. You took a deep breath in the afternoon and now evening is a time to come back together as a family.
Have dinner, spend some family time together, play some games, make time for family devotions, and then settle into a bedtime routine. This is also the time, after the kiddos have gone to bed, for you to plan for the next day. Don’t use all your evening time to plan for the next day but get things organized so that the next morrow runs as smoothly as you can make it.
Read: Provide Preschool Time at Home for Your Child
Regroup for the Next Day
Now that you know your child’s daily schedule you need to fill in the blanks with your own personal time. Maybe you wake up early for a quiet time or some work. Maybe you work after your kids are in bed as my mom used to do. Or you have some peaceful personal time during their naptime or quiet time. Make sure you get some moments for mom in there or you will burn out.
For more great ideas on a Schedule at Home for Small Children check out the Preschool Playground at Schoolhouseteachers.com
This Preschool Homeschool Curriculum course is designed to help you organize a preschool experience for your young children at home. There are Bible Lessons, Language Arts, Healthy, Numbers and Counting, Arts, Science, Music, Exercise, and ideas for planning. Use the SchoolhouseTeachers.com Custom Schedule Builder to create a unique experience for your family.
Read: What Happens Each Part of Your Young Child’s Day
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