Parents what is your daily routine with children ages 0-5?

@magnet (2087)
United States
June 29, 2007 10:11am CST
I am not one of those routine parents.Everyday we do something different thoughout the day but not at a set time. I've read about how important it is to establish a daily routine with small children. I would like to see your routine so I can get some ideas of establishing a good routine in which I can allow myself me time. This will be a challenge for me because I have one of those get up and go personalities .
1 person likes this
4 responses
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Here lately there has been no hope of us getting a routine. We have had family in town since the beginning of June. So with all the visits and being in and out all of our routines are gone. Normally my daughter wakes up around 7:30 or 8 am. On a normal day she takes a nap around 11:30 or 12. And I TRY to get her in bed by 9pm. But with all the commotion that routine has been long gone.
1 person likes this
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Well, I'm an organizer. I like things to stay pretty consistent and predictable, so I have a written routine, schedule for the day, but, we only stick to it maybe once a week, I use it more for a guideline than anything. Usually my boys wake up, and my oldest helps make his bed, change his clothes, and go potty while the baby takes a bottle, we have breakfast, and then they play quietly for an hour. The youngest goes down for a nap, and the oldest watches an hour of sesame street. After his t.v. time the oldest (almost 3) has 15 minutes of bible time, and 15 minutes of school time (he 'reads' a bible story, goes over his memory verse and then learns about a new number, color letter or shape) Then He plays outdoors (weather permitting) until the baby wakes up. Then they have lunch together, and we play outdoors if it's nice, otherwise they play in the sunroom. for about an hour. After that, it's story time and then they both go down for a nap. (the older one doesn't always sleep but he has quiet time if he's not tired) after an hour of sleeping, or q.time the oldest is ready for a snack and a short video, after wich the youngest (9months) is usually awake and ready for a snack of his own. They play seperately for awhile, about a 1/2 an hour, the youngest in his play pen and the oldest in his room. and then I play with them with some one on one time. Then Daddy is home soon after and the schedule pretty much goes out the window! (; I do prefer life this way, as I have MUCH more time for myself, and it's easy to look back and see all that I have accomplished. Also, I find that if I do it this way, i'm never at a loss of what to do, it's not.. okay, what do we do now? B/c I already have a plan. I find my day goes by much quicker and the boys are much happier. I don't think a schedule should dictate your life though, and we only adhere to the time frames once or twice a week, othertimes, we try to do it in the same order.. but that doesn't always work out either. Hope I gave you some good ideas..
@magnet (2087)
• United States
29 Jun 07
That sounds like a really good routine.Maybe if I write it down it will be easier for me. I am going to try this at least once a week and see how this works out for my family.
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
29 Jun 07
i have a 4 year old and 2 year old. We really don't have a full daily routine. It is just too hard to keep one lol. We do tend to atleast eat breakfast and lunch at the same time. If the weather is nice we go outside and play before lunch. After lunch we take a nap.
@magnet (2087)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I find it hard to keep one too. We do have a routine of breakfast,lunch,dinner and bedtime. They eat breakfast everyday at 7am,lunch 12pm,dinner 5pm and bed 8pm. I wish my children would take a nap everyday at the same time but it just does not work out that way.
@ibuemma (2953)
• United States
29 Jun 07
my daily routine with my kids usually are meal time ( only variation of food of course ) , doing homework, tooth-brushing time and go to bed at night. the rest of it never the same...at least for now...they understand those routine they gotta stick to them