Daily Preschool Rhythm for Stay at Home Parents

Are you looking for a schedule for homeschooling your little one?

Here’s the good news: when you homeschool for preschool, your day can be as flexible as you need it to be. Homeschooling is less about schedule and more about rhythm.

Have appointments? No problem. Have a playdate? No problem. Need to simply take a breath and pause? No problem.

But, let’s be honest. Preparation and planning are key to a successful homeschool experience for both you and your child. It fills the day with intention, allowing you to feel confident that your child is receiving an enriching day of learning and growth, even during the difficult moments.

Here is a sample schedule for you and your child (remember, you can make adustments as needed to fit the rhythm of your day):

7:00 AM - Wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, and get dressed for the day

We use a wake-up light in the mornings, which means that even if our preschooler gets up earlier than 7:00am, she knows to wait until the wake-up light turns on to start the day. In the meantime, she can play in her room, read books, or do puzzles. This allows us to set expectations and ease into the day. The last thing you need is to rush into chaos the minute your eyelids open. It also gives her freedom and independence to play while she waits for the day to begin.

Then, I make breakfast and we all eat together. We talk about what the day ahead hold for us and we begin our adventure.

8:00 AM - Free play and planning

Right after breakfast, the kids help me with practical tasks and they also have time to play freely while I get everything ready for the day. I involve them with tasks around the house, such as sweeping, wiping the dishes, and putting away the food. Doing daily tasks is an important skill for kids to learn and it greatly dignifies them to help us out. Then, I will put out a sensory bin or a planned activity, like coloring or play dough. Or, if I don’t have time to provide them with a craft, they will use their imagination, which at times looks a lot like staring at me in boredom. But, hey, good thing I can work under pressure.

As parents, we need time carved out to get everything ready for the day in order for it to be successful. It’s important for our mental health to structure the day in a way that works with our rhythm. And we shouldn’t feel bad or guilty for taking this time. For me, I use this morning time to finish my coffee, clean up after breakfast, prepare activities, and pack our bags for any outings.

9:00 AM - School time

For the most part, I carve out the mornings for our “formal” school time. The kids have the most energy and attention at this time, which works out well for our lessons, typically lasting 45 minutes - 1 hour. During this time, we follow along my curriculum, which includes singing songs, moving and practicing yoga, working on reading and writing skills, exploring math and science concepts, and discussing calendar related facts, like dates, weather, and holidays.

We all really enjoy this time of day together! It’s something the kids look forward to and it helps to hone in their focus as they know to prepare for learning. In fact, right after breakfast, my preschooler often says, “can we have school now?”. It’s one of the highlights of our day!

9:45-10:00 AM - Snack time

We all need a snack by this point! Does anyone else feel they’ve lived 5 lives by 10am?

10:30-11:30 AM - Play date or outing

During the window right before lunch, I try to plan play dates or some type of outing to literally get us out of the house.

Sometimes, this means going over to a friends house or visiting a local playground. Other times, we have a planned class, like art or dance. This is a critical part of the day for all of us. It pushes us out the door, which is a nudge I often need. More importantly, the kids need the socialization, play, and creativity. Play stretches far beyond fun for children. It shapes them from all perspectives, including cognitively, socially, and emotionally. So, we plan for play!

11:30 AM - Lunch

Lunch is one of the most chaotic times of our day, so I try to plan for this during my early morning preparation (for example, I will prepare sandwiches, wash fruit, or make energy bars). We all sit together for lunch and relax. Cheers to taking a break, you earned it!

12:30-1:30 PM Quiet time

My preschooler stopped napping early on, right around 2 1/2 years old. But, it is still so important for little ones to have time away from noise and stimulations, so we have “quiet time” every day. Again, we use the alarm light to set a timeframe for my preschooler, which helps with expectations and consistency. We simply set it and when it chimes, she knows quiet time is over.

During this time, we set up crafts, bins, or activities. We also place books on the floor with puzzles so our preschooler has some direction. Then, we allow her to do what she wants with her time. It’s a very important time of day for both the kids and myself. I use this hour to rebound and fill up on energy. This way, I’m ready for the second half of the day and can give my little ones all of me instead of an exhausted me (well, I’m still exhausted).

1:30 PM - Second snack

Finally, an excuse to have all the snacks! As if I ever needed one?

2:00-3:30 PM - Errands and outdoor time

During this half of the day, we usually have errands to run or a class to attend. I also use the afternoon to get us outside (weather permitting - New England moms, am I right?). Getting outside is critical for all of us, so we try hard to get out there, even if it’s cold or snowing. Fresh air, outdoor noises, and all the sensory input is so good and healthy for us all.

3:30 - 4:30 PM Independent play and helping with dinner

While I prepare dinner, I love involving the kids in as much as possible. Chopping vegetables, stirring ingredients, drying dishes - you name it! We all enjoy this time of day together and the kids love helping and learning. They own the kitchen now and know how to use almost all the tools.

4:30 - 5:00 PM Screen time

While I do allow screen time, I typically limit it to small portions of the day so they can see their favorite characters. This is another way we all have a little down time before the evening chaos.

5:00-5:30 Dinner

Prayers, time together, and giggles (with an occasional thrown plate).

5:30-6:30 Get those pre-bed roomies out

Right before bed, why do kids get a major dose of energy? We call this the “zoomies”. We run, play, dance, yell, hide, and shriek. Then, it’s bedtime.

6:30-7:30 Getting ready for bed and sleep at 7:30

So, this is it! An easy-to-follow schedule for you and your little ones. And remember, you can adjust it however you need to so that it fits your day!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions and of course, happy homeschooling!