How to Establish a Toddler's Routine

A daily routine for a toddler can mean the difference between a chaotic or calm house. Think about your needs as a parent and your toddler's needs as an individual, and plan your days appropriately.

Things You'll Need

• Baby Monitors
• Safety Gates
• Stress Relief Products
• Crayons
• Picnic Lunches
• Construction Paper
• Markers
• Personal Organizers

Instructions

1. Make a list. Think about the things you, as a parent, have to get done in a given day or week - work, grocery shopping, laundry, meals and free time. Think about the things your child needs - food, sleep, hygiene and serious play time. Make a list and organize your day and week.

2. Wake up before your child. You may have to sacrifice some precious sleep time, but you will decrease the stress of trying to take a shower and entertain and supervise a toddler by getting up 30 minutes early to get ready alone.

3. Create a morning routine. Get your toddler up and change diapers or follow your toilet-training routine. Pick out clothes and get dressed together. Eat breakfast together and clean up. Breakfast time with your toddler will become a special time you spend together every morning before you start your day.

4. Allow your child some free time. If you stay home, your child will need some individual time after spending the first part of the morning interacting with you. To help promote independent play, get out a bin of toys for your child to play with quietly while you take a breather.

5. Interact with your child. Toddlers swing from independent play to dependent play in frequent intervals. Be available for your child to interact with or plan on spending at least an hour in the morning to just play. If your toddler becomes bored or overly aggressive, have some ideas ready to guide your child's play and exploration.

6. Plan an activity every day. Having a time set aside for your toddler to interact with specific toys or art supplies will promote learning and creativity. Do an art project. Go to the park. Play outside. Do water play at the sink. Cook something together. You options are limitless.

7. Create a lunch and nap routine. Try to make lunch at the same time every day. After lunch, plan a quiet time for you and your toddler to read or sing songs, settling down for nap time. Your toddler will learn to expect this chain of events every day. Nap time will become an easy transition and you will get some much deserved rest.

8. Have a snack every day after nap. Again, your toddler will know exactly what to expect after nap and will look forward to getting a treat. Also, having a snack in the late afternoon will tide your toddler over until dinner time.

9. Play. Toddler's learn from play. Plan an activity or place bins of toys out and replace them as your toddler grows bored.

10. Go for a drive if your evening is dragging. Taking a short drive will get you out of the house and break the monotony before dinner time.

11. Plan dinner at approximately the same time every day. Get your child set up with something to do independently or him or her help you in the kitchen. Have a drawer with play dishes and utensils for your toddler to "help" you cook.

12. Start your evening routine after dinner. Try playing in your child's bedroom before bath time. Give your toddler a bath and get in pajamas. If you follow the same routine you have set for nap time your toddler will know it is time to sleep soon. Adjust your routine to meet your child's needs and change it if it doesn't work. Consistency is the key, find a routine that works for you and your child and stick with it.

Tips & Warnings

• If you and your toddler get bored of your routine, change it every now, but not too often.

• Find a mommy's day out program or a play group to join.

• Seek professional help if you experience extreme frustration or anger when interacting with your child.