Toddlers can be so wonderful and so difficult. Life can be hard when you're three. 😜 Toddlers are learning so many new skills, and with these new skills comes independence.
Sometimes, it is great to give your kids this independence, but other times we need to intervene as parents. This can lead to upset toddlers and tantrums.
Let's dive deeper into the world of toddler schedules. As a mom who has been through the ups and downs of parenting, I've discovered something super helpful in regulating tantrums and behavior issues: having a very flexible, but predictable, schedule each day!
This simple approach allows your kids to know what to expect, giving them a sense of security and stability, which is crucial during these early years of development.
Now, I'll be honest with you - I'm not always perfectly consistent in what we do each day. That's why I prefer having a general routine that we follow. It gives us some wiggle room and allows for spontaneity when needed.
We may mix it up every now and again, but I try to stick to the same activities around the same time each day. This way, my little one can still enjoy the benefits of a schedule without feeling like every minute is rigidly planned.
One of the things I love most about this approach is that it also allows my child to exercise independence within the walls of the schedule.
While there are certain activities we do together, I encourage my little one to take the lead during self-start activities. It not only fosters a sense of autonomy but also gives me a few precious moments to get ready myself. It's a win-win situation!
To further solidify this sense of stability, I keep our general routine on our refrigerator so my kids can see it easily.
They've become familiar with the daily flow, and it empowers them to plan what they want to do during their next block of time in the schedule. Plus, they enjoy being in the know, which reduces unnecessary meltdowns over sudden changes.
Here's an outline of the routine we try to roughly follow:
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
I've created a downloadable schedule that you can fill in with your own routine and hang it up for your kids to see each day! It's a fun way to get them involved in the process and help them understand the structure of the day.
Just click here to access it and try implementing it this week. You might be pleasantly surprised by the positive impact it has on your family dynamics!
If you're interested in more parenting tips and updates on our daily adventures, follow me on Instagram!
