14 Examples of a Daily Routine for a 2 Year Old (2024)

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!

14 Examples of a Daily Routine for a 2 Year Old (1)

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

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

14 Examples of a Daily Routine for a 2 Year Old (2)

14 Examples of a Daily Routine for a 2 Year Old (3)

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.

14 Examples of a Daily Routine for a 2 Year Old (2024)

FAQs

What is a good daily schedule for a 2 year old? ›

Sample schedule
  • 7:30 to 8 a.m.: Wake up.
  • 8 to 9 a.m.: Eat breakfast and clean up. ...
  • 9 to 10 a.m.: Playtime. ...
  • 10 to 11 a.m.: Outdoor time, exercise, etc. ...
  • 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Planned activity or errands. ...
  • 12 to 1 p.m.: Lunch and wind down. ...
  • 1 to 3 p.m.: Nap or quiet time. ...
  • 3 to 3:30 p.m.: Afternoon snack.
Sep 24, 2021

What should I be doing with my 2 year old everyday? ›

Give your child balls to kick, roll, and throw. Give toys that teach your child how to make things work and how to solve problems. For example, give her toys where she can push a button and something happens. Let your child play dress up with grown-up clothes, such as shoes, hats, and shirts.

How do you spend day with 2 year old? ›

How to fill a day with toddlers
  1. Get Out of the House. Whether it's for a baby/toddler class, playgroup or just a visit to the park. ...
  2. Try a Simple at Home Activity. ...
  3. Read Stories Together. ...
  4. Sing Songs. ...
  5. Mealtimes. ...
  6. Quiet time activities. ...
  7. Bathtime. ...
  8. Attempt Chores Together.
Jul 10, 2019

What is an example of routine for kids? ›

For school-age children, you could have routines for: getting ready in the morning and going to bed at night. doing after-school activities like hobbies or sport. doing chores – for example, setting the dinner table, unpacking the dishwasher, helping with the laundry, or caring for pets.

Why is routine important for 2 year olds? ›

Just like adults, children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. A consistent daily schedule and step-by-step routines give children a predictable day. Schedules and routines in the group care setting and at home help children: Feel in control of their environment.

Does a 2 year old need a routine? ›

Routines give little children a sense of security, a feeling of being smart and a sense of time. And they're important for toddlers at every stage!

How high should a 2 year old count? ›

Though every child is different, most toddlers will be able to count to 10 by the time they are two-years-old. At this point in time they are probably repeating them mostly by memory and have yet to understand what they actually mean. This concept is known as “rote” counting.

What is a normal behavior for a 2 year old? ›

At 2-3 years, you can expect strong feelings, tantrums, pretend play and independence. Toddlers are developing new skills in many areas, including language, thinking and movement. Development activities include talking and listening, reading, playing outdoors, playing with others and cooking together.

What does a 2 year old look like? ›

At 2 years old, your toddler is growing, growing, grown — to a length that just might predict her future height. Most 2-year-old girls weigh 19½ to 32½ pounds and measure 31½ to 36½ inches tall. Boys typically weigh 21 to 33½ pounds and measure 32 to 37 inches tall.

What time should I put my 2 year old down for a nap? ›

Example Sleep Schedule for a 2-Year-Old
Example Sleep Schedule for a 2-Year-Old
Wake6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Nap after lunch12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wake from nap1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Start bedtime routine6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
1 more row
Nov 6, 2023

How do I write daily routine for my child? ›

Here's how. You might include what time everybody gets up, when your child goes to school and you go to work, when you have meals, and what happens at bedtime. For example, you want to make sure your child brushes their teeth in the morning, or you want to read to your child at night.

How do you write a daily routine example? ›

Daily schedule example
  1. 5:30 a.m. Wake up.
  2. 5:45 a.m. Drink water and eat a snack.
  3. 6:00 a.m. Go for a jog.
  4. 6:30 a.m. Shower and get ready for work.
  5. 7:15 a.m. Make bed.
  6. 7:30 a.m. Write affirmations while eating breakfast.
  7. 8:00 a.m. Commute to work and listen to a podcast.
  8. 10:00 a.m. Take a 15-minute water and meditation break.
Jan 13, 2024

How do I create a daily routine for my child? ›

Design a routine that allows for adjustments while maintaining a sense of structure. Keep it Simple: Aim for a simple daily schedule that is easy to understand and follow. Avoid overwhelming your child with too many activities or rigid time constraints. Focus on the key elements of their day and build from there.

What time should a 2 year old go to bed? ›

6:00 pm - 7:30pm

What is a healthy bedtime for a 2 year old? ›

When is a good bedtime for toddlers? For many toddlers, expecting them to sleep from 7pm to 7am is too much to ask, but a 9:30pm bedtime is probably too late. Instead, the sweet spot tends to be between 8 and 8:30pm for toddlers, with lights-out by 8:30.

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