One of the questions I get asked the most as a homeschooling mom of three is: “How do you get it all done…..especially with a toddler?” The honest answer? I don’t do it all. But we do have a rhythm that helps our days flow (most of the time). I’ve learned that having a flexible but consistent routine keeps our home running smoother, and gives everyone…including me, a sense of peace. So today, I’m sharing our simple homeschool daily routine and how I make it work with a busy toddler in the mix.
Our Homeschool Daily Routine
4:30 a.m. – Mom’s Morning Reset
I wake up early to have quiet time with God and a little peace before the day begins. I spend about 30 minutes doing Bible study, journaling, or just sitting in silence with coffee in hand.
5:30 a.m. – Workout Time
I head to our home gym and squeeze in a strength training workout while everyone is still asleep. This hour grounds me and sets the tone for the rest of the day.
6:30 a.m. – Breakfast & Family Wake-Up
I cook a hot breakfast for my husband and kids while the house is still quiet. It’s a small act of love that also helps us all start the day with some nourishment and structure.
7:30–8:00 a.m. – Chores & Morning Reset
Once my husband leaves for work, the kids start their morning chores, making beds, tidying their spaces, and helping with quick house pick-ups.
8:30 a.m. – Outdoor Play
Before we dive into school, we always get outside. The kids play in the backyard, ride bikes, or shoot hoops while I tidy up the kitchen and get our homeschool materials ready.
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Homeschool Time
This is our main learning block. We cover core subjects like math, reading, writing, and a bit of science or social studies depending on the day. My toddler usually plays nearby with sensory bins, books, or puzzles during this time.
We take a snack break mid-morning, and I keep things flexible. Some days we’re at the table, other days we’re reading on the couch or doing hands-on activities outside.
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. – Lunch & Free Play
The kids grab lunch, and we all go outside again if the weather’s nice. My toddler runs wild, and the big kids either jump on the trampoline, do chalk art, or ride around the loop.
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. – Nap Time + Quiet Time
My toddler naps, and this is when I take a little time for myself. Usually I’ll relax for about an hour….read, scroll, snack in peace…and then spend the next hour doing laundry or a quick clean-up around the house.
During this time, my boys will complete their 30 minutes of independent reading, coding and foreign language electives. These are all quiet activities that can be done during my toddlers nap time, which is great.
3:00 to 5:30 p.m. – Creative Time
This is when we do fun, intentional things that don’t feel like “school.” Baking, gardening, painting, sensory play, reading aloud, or even a nature walk if we have the energy. I try to lean into whatever the kids are interested in.
My MIL helps with taking kids to sports lessons and they attend tennis and jiu-jitsu classes on a weekly basis. So once we are finished with our activity, they leave with their grandmother, and I stay behind with my toddler.
5:30 to Evening – Dinner, Bath, & Wind Down
Normally I will have my toddler watch a little bit of TV so that I can get started with dinner. I try to cook, easy dinners with only 15 to 20 minutes of prep because I know that soon I’m gonna have a toddler tapping my leg, asking for a snack or wanting to be picked up. Once I’m done with dinner, I will go ahead and do a small reset and set the table before everybody gets home to eat. I normally have my toddler help me with putting pillows back on the couch, or she will help clean up her toys, or even help pick up the dog toys. And she absolutely loves helping out. Everyone gets home around 6:30 PM and we eat together as a family, everybody showers, and we spend a little bit of time together before everybody goes to bed.
Our homeschool routine isn’t fancy…but it works for us. The key for me has been keeping it simple and flexible, building our day around natural rhythms, and letting go of the pressure to “do it all.” If you’re in the season of homeschooling with a toddler underfoot, I hope this gives you some peace….and a little inspiration to build a rhythm that works for you too.
