A daily routine for a 2 year old is a great way to manage your day. Schedule activities, naps, and bed time using these examples and ideas!
These days, your “routine” could feel anything but.
Maybe you’re working from home now, juggling laundry during naptime and playing between work meetings. Perhaps life has you barely keeping up, making you feel like you could be doing more learning activities with her. The pressure to be a better mom, while admirable, can also leave you feeling clueless about how to make the best use of your time.
Or you want to have a better structure to your day, whether you’re home with her all day or reuniting after work and school.
Examples of a 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. They also help with my kids’ behavior, from making sure they sleep well at night to avoiding tantrums and nagging.
And however much I try to stick to a set routine, I also know there’s room for flexibility, as it should be. Life happens, and we have to go with the flow before resetting back to the routine.
But what do you do when your routine feels off, or if you feel like you have no routine at all? Often, the trick is to look at other people’s routines for inspiration to jump-start your ideas. That’s why I gathered several examples from fellow moms to inspire your own.
Now, if your goal is to help your little one learn, keep in mind that regular activities are more than enough. Don’t feel pressured to sign her up for every enrichment class or drill her with flash cards. Reading books, piecing puzzles together, and drawing are excellent activities that help so much more.
Similarly, don’t feel the need to interact and be with her 24/7, or feel bad for giving yourself a break. Giving her autonomy and even letting her struggle with a problem are some of the best gifts you can offer.
And finally, these schedules are applicable whether you’re home with her all day or if she’s at a daycare or preschool. 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.
Take a look at these examples of a daily routine for a 2 year old from your fellow moms:
Example 1
- 6am: Wake up and eat breakfast
- 7:30am: Take a walk in the stroller
- 8:30am: Playtime at home
- 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
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Example 2
- 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 (take a look at these children’s books about bedtime)
- 8:30pm: Bedtime
Example 3
- 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
Learn how to establish a solid 2 year old bedtime.
Example 4
- 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
Example 5:
- 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
Example 6:
- 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
Check out these 2 year old development activities.
Example 7:
- 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: Bed
Example 8:
- 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
Check out these examples of a 2 year old sleep schedule.
Example 9:
- 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
Example 10:
- 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
Example 11:
- 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
Example 12:
- 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 (snack during this time)
- 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
Learn 12 ways you’re already practicing Montessori parenting without even realizing it.
Example 13:
- 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: Free play
- 6pm: Dinner
- 7pm: Play
- 7:30pm: Watch television
- 8pm: Pajamas and books
- 8:30pm: Bedtime
Example 14:
- 8am: Wake up and eat breakfast
- 9am: Play outside or run errands
- 12pm: Lunch, play, and read books
- 2pm: Nap
- 6pm: Dinner and play at home
- 7pm: Bath time and books
- 8pm: Bedtime
Play ideas
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
Conclusion
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. Structure your day around your main “pillars” like eating and napping, filling the time between with activities and errands, both in and out of the home.
You now have several ideas of what to do during those times, from going to the playground and zoo to singing songs and playing with blocks.
Your days may feel anything but “routine,” but with these tips in mind, you can create a schedule for your 2 year old, even between Zoom meetings and chores.
Get more tips:
- How to Rock a Morning Routine for Toddlers
- The Importance of Creating Toddler Routines
- How to Spend Time with Your Family (Even as a Busy Mom)
- What to Do When Your Toddler Suddenly Won’t Sleep
- How to Get Things Done with a Toddler
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