Our daily routine with young children changes depending on many factors:
Is my partner working or home?
Is our daughter attending kindergarten or staying with us?
Are we at my partner’s parents’ home or at my childhood home?
There is no single “perfect” routine — instead, our days adapt constantly to our surroundings, energy levels, and family dynamics.
When Everyone Is Home at My Partner’s Parents’ House
When my partner and our four-year-old daughter are home and we are staying with his parents, mornings are slow and gentle. We usually sleep in and take about two hours for our morning routine. There is no rush — we cuddle, get dressed, and eat breakfast together.
Sometimes my partner’s mother has already made porridge. We eat together, and I bring the dishes to the washroom afterward. Once breakfast is done, we head outside to play in the snow.
My partner helps our daughter get dressed, and I prepare our two-year-old son. Our daughter loves lying in the snow, building snow castles, and pushing snow around with her small shovel. My partner often takes her to the barn to help give water and hay to the animals.
Because our son does not walk yet due to Down syndrome, he stays warm in his stroller, watching everything around him. Strong wind upsets him, so on very windy days, outdoor time is shorter. Usually, we spend between thirty minutes and an hour and a half outside.
After coming indoors, we hang up wet clothes to dry and eat lunch together — often leftovers from the day before. After lunch, our daughter stays downstairs drawing and spending time with her grandparents, while I bring our son upstairs for his nap.
Quiet Moments During Nap Time
When our son is sleeping and our daughter is downstairs, I finally get some quiet time. I use it to sit at my computer, sort photos, check emails, read, or enjoy snacks I don’t want to share with the kids. These small breaks help me recharge.
Once our son wakes up, our daughter comes upstairs. We sing, play, cuddle, and laugh together. These moments of closeness are some of the best parts of the day.
Evenings and Wind-Down Time
We usually eat dinner downstairs in the early evening. There is a long gap between lunch and dinner, which helps both children eat better. Most days, my partner’s mother prepares dinner.
Afterward, we go back upstairs. I let our daughter run around the central chimney, pretend to be different animals, and burn off energy. It’s wonderful to watch our son crawl after her, trying to imitate everything she does.
Around 8 p.m., we go downstairs for a light evening meal, followed by brushing teeth and heading upstairs to sleep. Most nights, everyone falls asleep quickly.
Physically, these days are the easiest for me. I don’t have to do much housework, and the day is filled with cuddling the children. Mentally, however, it can be challenging because many people share the same space, and relationships are not always smooth. On those days, I retreat upstairs to have more quiet time alone.
When My Partner Is Working and Our Daughter Is in Kindergarten
These days are rare lately, as our daughter has been home for almost a month. When they do happen, mornings are much more chaotic. Our daughter needs to be woken up on time, washed, dressed, and prepared quickly.
My partner takes her to kindergarten before going to work. In the evenings, he picks her up, and they come home together. After a long day, there is often frustration and more emotional outbursts, but she also eagerly shares stories about what she did, what she ate, and how much fun she had with her friends.
I believe kindergarten is good for her from time to time, even though it’s easier for me when everyone is home.
With our son, the day remains calm and predictable: a slow morning, outdoor time, lunch, nap, playtime, dinner, light evening snack, and bedtime.
Life at My Childhood Home
When we stay at my childhood home, the rhythm of the day changes again. Physically, there is much more work to do, but mentally it feels lighter because we have more privacy and fewer conflicts.
If I’m alone with the children, I also need to heat the house, which makes the day more demanding. When my partner is with us, he takes care of heating the house several times a day, while I cook and wash dishes. We both care for the children together.
The routine remains similar: a two-hour morning routine, outdoor time, lunch, our son’s nap, quiet activities for our daughter, playtime, dinner, and a calm evening. Sometimes my partner takes our daughter outside in the dark to walk or chop wood, while one of us stays inside with our son.
Evenings end with a light meal and bedtime — and thankfully, everyone sleeps well.
Every Family Has Its Own Rhythm
This is what a typical day looks like for us, shaped by circumstances, family support, and flexibility. There is no strict schedule — only a rhythm that changes with life.
What does your family’s daily routine look like?
The Role of Daily Routines in a Child’s Life (with Research)
Daily routines play an essential role in children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development. Routines provide a sense of predictability and security, helping children understand what to expect next and feel safe within their environment. This stability supports self-regulation, reduces anxiety, and strengthens family bonds — especially in early childhood when consistency helps build healthy habits.
Research shows that structured daily routines — such as regular meal times, predictable play and nap schedules, and consistent bedtime rituals — are linked with better behavioral adjustment and emotional well-being in young children. These routines help children develop a sense of control over their world, improve sleep quality, and support smoother transitions throughout the day.
Read more in this open-access article on family routines and child development.
You are not alone in this.
If you would like to go deeper, you can buy the e-book Our Journey – A Different Path for honest reflections and lived experience beyond this post: https://payhip.com/b/c9s3b
You can also purchase supportive routine templates designed to help parents and children navigate daily life with more clarity, structure, and understanding: https://payhip.com/b/RYA65
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