ByNina Garcia
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!
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, youcancreate a schedule for your little one.
Get more tips:
- 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Your 2 Year Old Refuses to Sleep
- “Help! My 2 Year Old Still Wakes Up at Night for Milk”
- Is Your 2 Year Old Waking Up at Night for Hours? Here’s What to Do
- How to Avoid 2 Year Old Bedtime Tantrums
- How to Establish a 2 Year Old Bedtime
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“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
Nina Garcia
Nina Garcia is the founder and CEO of Sleeping Should Be Easy, a leading parenting resource and online blog. She has spent the last 14 years creating helpful content for parents through online courses and workshops, ebooks, newsletters, and the Sleeping Should Be Easy website.