Ask My Little Buddha

October 9, 2007 | Print

Do you have some recommendations about how to shape my day with my toddler? He gets cranky at times, and I’m wondering if we’re doing too many activities or too little.

Toddlers like to have a rhythm and routine. They enjoy knowing what’s ahead and a certain familiarity from day to day.For parents, a toddler day can be an adjustment. If a child has transitioned to one afternoon nap, we’re trading in our morning break for a longer day. We find that once we create a daily rhythm, we settle into the new routine.

Our mornings start with breakfast, play time, getting dressed, and then an outing–the park, a walk somewhere special like the beach where they can get out and explore, a low key music class, or for older toddlers an age appropriate story time at the library (as in our kids enjoy listening and no one minds if they decide to walk around instead).The idea is not too rushed, space to roam and outside play (if weather allows). For cold climates, visiting a friend to play or a YMCA or open gym for young children can be good options for getting out of the house. Even putting on snow clothes and walking in the snow for awhile can be an outing. Wherever we are, we usually offer snack around 10/10:30.

After our morning outing, we come home for lunch and a nap. Some toddlers nap early (11:30) and may have a bigger morning snack with lunch after nap. The nap gives us our break in the day, and we try to rest when we need it.Afternoons vary more than mornings, playing at home in the yard, a walk through the neighborhood, for older toddlers baking or prepping dinner. If we’re picking up older siblings from school, we often arrive ten minutes early so our toddler can walk around a bit rather than sit in the car. Afternoon snack is 3 or 3:30 depending on lunch/dinner time.

Dinner ranges between 5 and 6 pm, though we try to keep dinner around the same time within that window as we notice toddlers can get cranky if the time varies too much. After dinner, quiet play, bath, story time and bed. The more siblings, the less likely a nightly bath and sponge baths come into play.As we plan our toddler days, we include ourselves in the equation. We go to the market a few times a week, finding a time that works well for our toddler’s energy levels. And if we wake up one morning and can’t face the park yet again, we change to something that we would like to do–visiting a friend, the zoo, or a coffee shop. It’s nice to spice up the days every so often with a new activity.

Toddler Rhythm: Wake up, Breakfast, Home play/get dressed, Outing/snack, Lunch/nap, Light outing/home play, Dinner, Bath/stories/bed.

•