RoutineKit

Daily routine chart for kids

The whole day on one page: meals, school, play, bath and bed, with times beside each picture. Useful on weekends and holidays, when the day has no built-in shape.

Steps (11)
Look & print settings
Our day
  1. Wake up7:00
  2. Breakfast7:30
  3. School or nursery8:30
  4. Lunch12:00
  5. Play time3:30
  6. Snack4:00
  7. Outside time4:30
  8. Dinner5:30
  9. Bath6:30
  10. Story7:00
  11. Sleep7:30

In the print dialog choose Save as PDF for a file, and turn on Background graphics to keep the colours. Your chart saves automatically in this browser.

Build a daily schedule around anchors

Young children cope best when a few things happen at the same time every day. The AAP’s HealthyChildren.org guidance for parents repeatedly highlights regular mealtimes and bedtimes. Fix those anchors first, then let the rest flex:

AnchorWhy it mattersTip
Wake-upSets the timing for naps and bedtimeKeep weekends within about an hour of weekdays
Meals and snacksHungry children struggle with everything elseYoung children often eat every 2–3 hours
Outside or active playThe CDC recommends 3–5 year olds are active throughout the day, and 6+ year olds get 60 minutes of activity dailyPut it before quiet time
Quiet time or napA reset in the middle of the dayBooks or puzzles if they no longer nap
Bedtime routineProtects sleepSame steps nightly; see the bedtime chart

Want the day in smaller pieces? The visual schedule shows how to chunk it.

Questions parents ask

What is a daily routine chart for kids?

A picture timeline of your child’s whole day, from waking up to bedtime, with approximate times. It helps children predict what comes next, which is especially useful at weekends and in the holidays when there is no school structure.

Should a daily schedule for kids have exact times?

For young children, the order matters more than the clock. Use times as a guide for yourself, or turn them off. Children aged 6–8 learning to tell time often like seeing them.

How do I make a daily routine chart for summer holidays?

Keep the anchors (meals, outside time, quiet time, bedtime) at roughly the same times, and use one picture for “activity” that you change each day. Save a separate copy for weekdays and weekends.

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