The idea of a putting your kids on a schedule can seem a bit intimidating and you might wonder where to begin. Getting your kids on a schedule isn’t that hard. It just takes a little thinking ahead. In fact, your kids may already be on a schedule and you just haven’t noticed it.
I think the easiest way to start a schedule is to think about what time you want your child to wake up in the morning. Then back that time up by 10-12 hours depending on how much sleep your child seems to need. With those two times, you’ve got a wake-up time and a bedtime. Those are the two bookends to your schedule.
Next, take a look at things you need to do throughout your day. Stuff like eating, reading books or naps if your kids still take them.
Once you fill those items in, just add a block of time for errands or chores and then a few blocks of time for your kids to play. Before you realize it, you’ve got most of your day mapped out. Scheduling doesn’t have to be scary or intimidating. It’s simply setting aside a few blocks of time for naps, play, and chores.
Why I Love Schedules
I’m a very organized person, though if you’d look at my house right now, you wouldn’t know it. Before kids, I’d organize my DVDs and books alphabetically (NERD ALERT). So maybe some of it’s my personality, but I do feel scheduling is important for kids.
I like a schedule because it sets a time in your day for priorities. Maybe you want to prep your child for preschool and teach him his colors. To make sure this happens, schedule ten minutes a day at a certain time and use it to teach skills. Then have an activity for your other kids like letting them read books or playing with a toy they haven’t seen in a while.
Perhaps Bible reading is a priority to you. Then set aside a block of time for that each day. A schedule ensures you get your priorities done and helps you get to the end of your day where you feel that you’ve accomplished something and made some time for each of your children.
Scheduled days work well for my kids. They always want to know what we’re going to do next or when we will eat. Since they don’t tell time yet, telling them to play first, then eat makes sense to them.
For our family, a flexible schedule has worked well. I wouldn’t be able to work from home without it. Here’s what my day usually looks like.
Here’s our Daily Schedule
- 5 AM – I get up and work
- 7 AM – Kids get up and play in their rooms
- 7:30 ish – Eat Breakfast
- 8:15-8:30 – Get dressed, Brush Teeth
- 9 AM – Independent Play in Rooms (I work while kids play)
- 10 AM – Pick up rooms
- 10:15 AM – Worship Jesus, Bible Verse, Letter of the Day, and Fun Activity Together
- 11 AM – Lunch
- 11:30-11:45 – Play Time
- 12:30 PM – 1-Year-Old Naps
- 12:30-1PM – Mom and 3 Year Old One on One Time
- 1 PM – 3-Year-Old Naps or Reads Books Quietly in Room if not Tired (I work here)
- 2-3PM – 1 Year Old Wakes Up and Reads Books With Mom
- 3 PM – 3 Year Old Wakes Up
- 3-7 PM Free Time to run errands, go to the library, whatever we want to do that day
- 7:20 PM-ish – 1 Year Old Sleeps
- 7:30-8 PM – 3 Year Old Goes to Bed & I work if needed or do housework or laundry.
This schedule has allowed me to continue working while staying at home with two kids. I know there’s no way that I’d be able to work from home without a schedule.
The great thing about a schedule is that it doesn’t have to be rigid. I don’t always follow the clock to the minute and I don’t sacrifice doing fun stuff when it pops up. However, I’ve noticed my children’s behavior is a lot better if we follow this schedule 4-5 days a week.
What works well for your family? Do you follow a schedule, or prefer to just take things as they come?
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