14 Examples of a Daily Routine for a 2 Year Old

A daily routine for a 2 year old is a great way to manage your day. Schedule activities, naps, and bedtime using these examples and ideas!

Daily Routine for a 2 Year Old

I’ve long been a fan of routines and rhythms, as they’ve kept order in my day so I don’t have to think too much about what to do next. But what do you do when your routine feels off, or if you feel like you have no routine at all?

Maybe your 2 year old isn’t going to sleep until 11pm or you’d like to include a few activities but can’t seem to find the time. Often, the trick is to look at other people’s routines for inspiration.

That’s why I gathered several examples to jump-start a few ideas. Take a look—I hope you find them useful:

6am: Wake up and eat breakfast
7:30am: Take a walk in the stroller
8:30am: Playtime at home
9:30am: Learning activities for 2 year olds
10am: Snack
11:30am: Lunch
12pm: Nap time
3pm: Run errands or outdoor play
4:30pm: Dinner
5pm: Play at home
6:30pm: Bath and story time
7pm: Bedtime
6am: Wake up, eat breakfast, and independent play
9:30am: Nap
12pm: Eat lunch and play at home
3:30pm: Nap
5:30pm: Watch television while preparing dinner
6pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Bath time, pajamas and books
8:30pm: Bedtime
6:30am: Wake up, eat breakfast, and play
8:30am: Run errands or play outside
12pm: Lunch and play at home
1:30pm: Nap
4pm: Snack, play outside or walk
6:30pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Bath time, pajamas, and books
8:15pm: Bedtime
6:30am: Wake up and get dressed
8am: Breakfast
8:30am: Outing
11:30am: Lunch
12:30pm: Nap
3pm: Play at home and do projects
6:30pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Bedtime
7am: Wake up and eat breakfast
9am: Play outside or run errands
10am: Snack
11am: Play at home
11:30am: Lunch
12pm: Nap
3:30pm: Snack
4pm: Play and do chores
6pm: Dinner
7pm: Bath time and books
8pm: Bedtime
7am: Wake up and have breakfast
7:30am: Play and prepare lunch
8am: Get dressed
8:30am: Play indoors
10am: Play outside or run errands
11:30am: Lunch
12pm: Nap
2pm: Play at home
3pm: Snack and watch television
4pm: Play outside
5:30pm: Dinner
7pm: Bath time
8pm: Bedtime
7am: Wake up and eat breakfast
7:30am: Play at home and do chores
9am: Outing and snack
12pm: Lunch
12:30pm: Nap
2:30pm: Snack
3pm: Hang out at home or go to the park
5pm: Dinner
6pm: Play at home and tidy up
7pm: Bath time and books
8pm: Bedtime
7am: Wake up and eat breakfast
9am: Snack
11:45am: Lunch
1:30pm: Nap
6:30pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Watch television
8pm: Read books
8:30pm: Bedtime
7am: Wake up, eat breakfast, and get dressed
11am: Lunch
12pm: Nap
2pm: Snack
4:30pm: Snack
6pm: Dinner
8pm: Bath time
8:30pm: Bedtime
7am: Wake up and eat breakfast
9am: Snack
11am: Lunch
12pm: Nap
2pm: Snack
6:30pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Bath time and books
8:30pm: Bedtime
7am: Wake up and get dressed
8am: Breakfast
8:30am: Free play
9am: Play outside
9:30am: Play at home
10am: Snack and chores
12pm: Lunch
12:30pm: Play in the yard and do chores
1:30pm: Reading and worksheets
2pm: Snack and watch television
2:30pm: Free play
5pm: Dinner
6pm: Bath time
6:30pm: Free play
7:30pm: Bedtime
7:30am: Wake up and get dressed
8:15am: Breakfast and play
9:15am: Play at home, go to a play date, or run errands
11:30am: Play outside
12pm: Lunch
1pm: Nap
3:30pm: Snack and play at home
5:30pm: Dinner
6pm: Play outside
7pm: Bath time, pajamas, and watch television
8pm: Brush teeth, read books, and bedtime
7:30am: Wake up
8am: Eat breakfast and watch television
9am: Arts and crafts
11:30pm: Lunch
12pm: Nap
2pm: Read books
2:15pm: Snack
2:30pm: Do a worksheet
3pm: Visit the playground and park
4pm: Play games for 2 year olds
6pm: Dinner
7pm: Play
7:30pm: Watch television
8pm: Pajamas and books
8:30pm: Bedtime
8am: Wake up and eat breakfast
9am: Play outside or run errands
12pm: Lunch, play, and read books
2pm: Nap
6pm: Dinner
6:30pm: Do a few mess-free activities for 2 year olds
7pm: Bath time and books
8pm: Bedtime

Play ideas

Wondering how to entertain a 2 year old in between eating and sleeping? Rather than listing play ideas with each example schedule, I’ve gathered them below, depending on whether you’re at home or out and about.

At-home play ideas:

  • Build with blocks
  • Draw and color
  • Play with trucks and cars
  • Use the indoor tricycle
  • Play with kitchen pots and pans
  • Read books
  • Piece puzzles together
  • Play in the backyard
  • Play with magnets
  • Sing songs
  • Play with play dough
  • Pretend play
  • Play with a ball
  • Write with chalk on the sidewalk or chalkboard
  • Play in a pretend kitchen
  • Dance
  • Do arts and crafts projects

Out-of-the-house play ideas:

  • Pull your child in a wagon
  • Run around in the park
  • Attend a music class
  • Listen to story time or participate in library crafts
  • Run errands
  • Visit the children’s section of a bookstore
  • Go to a gym or mom-and-me class
  • Buy groceries
  • Play at the playground
  • Join a playgroup or play date with other kids
  • Visit a museum
  • Go to the zoo
  • Visit a farm
  • Walk around the neighborhood

Frequently asked questions

Do these schedules work if we’re not home all day?

These schedules are applicable whether you’re home with her all day or if she’s at a daycare or preschool and you’re at work. Feel free to fill in or adjust according to your needs. For instance, skip the late morning and early afternoons if she’ll be in preschool during that time.

The bottom line

As you can see, creating a daily routine for a 2 year old doesn’t have to be complicated, nor is it set in stone. Your days may feel anything but “routine,” but with these tips and ideas in mind, you can create a schedule for your little one.

Get more tips:

Free ebook: Want simple tweaks to stop feeling overwhelmed and start managing your time? Grab Time Management Strategies for the Overwhelmed Mom below—at no cost to you. You’ll also get my newsletters, which parents say they LOVE:

“Nina, I applied the advice, and everything immediately got so peaceful. You have opened my eyes so wide and are literally already changing our lives. ” -Heather Cristea

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