Sample schedules for your 4-year-old to follow each day. These are real routines used by real families, so you know they work! This will give you lots of ideas for how to structure your child’s day.
As your preschooler gets older, you still want to maintain a consistent daily routine and schedule. Here are some elements to have in your day and lots of sample schedules to try.
4 Year Old Routine Elements in a Daily Schedule
There are certain elements every 4-year-old should ideally have as part of the day. There are other elements that aren’t a “should” but are a “likely will.” Let’s discuss what they are before we dive into sample schedules.
Wake Up Time
Just as your child has had up to this point, you want the morning wake up time to be consistent from day to day. This really helps maintain a consistent and solid sleep schedule.
Breakfast
Shortly after waking up for the day, your child will need breakfast. Keep your meals each day as consistent as possible as far as what time of day you do each meal.
You might have your child get ready for the day before breakfast or after breakfast. There is no one right or wrong way to do it.
Chores
A four year old can do a lot of chores. Make chores a regular part of your preschooler’s day. A 4 year old can help with laundry, the dishwasher, and other basic chores. For a full list of ideas, see Preschooler Chores: 12 Chores for 4 Year Olds.
Learning Time
Learning time is something your preschooler will cherish and love. It will be a special time your child looks forward to each day. This does not have to be long nor fancy. It also can be fun and really feel like playtime. Doing puzzles or playing with stickers are absolutely learning time for your kiddo, and also a lot of fun!
>>>Read: How To Do a Learning Activity of the Day
Independent Playtime
Independent playtime is a time when your child plays with toys alone. There are many benefits to independent playtime. At this age, this time is often referred to as Roomtime.
>>>Read: Roomtime: Structured Playtime Alone for Kids
Free Playtime
Children learn through play. Your preschooler should have free time each day to just play. This can be time to play with toys, outside time in the backyard, going for a walk in the neighborhood, drawing with sidewalk chalk in the driveway, having a dance party, or riding bikes. It can be whatever. It is free time.
>>>Read: How To Use Free Playtime In Your Child’s Schedule
Screen Time
Screen time is an optional daily activity. Some families do not do any technology while others use it every day. You can allow some time each day for your child to watch a show or play on the iPad.
Some people like screen time before lunch and others prefer it to be after nap or rest time. Just be mindful that you do not overuse screen time. It is very easy to rely on it. Young children don’t need as much supervision when they are enraptured by a screen. But it very easily becomes a crutch and something that prevents kids from being creative and imaginative.
Lunch Time
You will have lunch time each day. Keep your meals each day as consistent as possible. Try to eat close to the same time each day.
Rest Time
At some point after lunch, you will want some sort of rest time. This is time spent quietly in bed or in another location (like the couch) where your child sits still and is quiet. Your child can look at books or simply rest.
Some children at this age do still need naptime. Some take an afternoon nap each day and others just a few days a week. It is okay if your preschooler needs a nap.
Note that once your child no longer takes a nap, you might need longer night sleep.
Snack Time
You may or may not have a snack time between rest time and dinner time. Again, there is no right or wrong here. Some do not have an afternoon snack because they have an early dinner and a snack would disrupt that. Others find their kids really need it.
Dinner Time
You will have a daily dinner time. I encourage you to eat as a family as much as possible. Keep your meals each day as consistent as possible.
Bedtime Routine
A bedtime routine is valuable for preschoolers just as it is for babies. It signals that it is time for bed. Include getting in pjs and reading a bedtime story to help your child transition from playtime to sleep time.
Bedtime
Just as you wanted your morning wake up time to be consistent, keep your bedtime as consistent as possible. If your child takes a nap each day and has daytime sleep, night sleep might not need to be as long as it would if there was no nap in the day. Your preschooler should have 11-15 hours of total sleep in a 24-hour period.
Sample 4 Year Old Schedules
These are the schedules and routines my 4 children used as 4 year olds.
4 Years Old
This was Kaitlyn’s schedule at this age. We have a variation to this for playgroup and dance class, but for the most part:
7:30: Get up. Read a church children’s magazine. Get ready.
8:00ish: Breakfast
9:00: Learning intro. Then some free play with McKenna.
10:00: Independent Playtime
11:00: Learning activity. Then more playing–possible 30 minute of PBSkids.org or TV time.
12:30: Lunch
1:00: Play with Brayden
2:00: nap
4:00: up. Play until dinner
5:00/5:30: Dinner
6:00: Free play
7:00: Start getting ready for bed
8:00: In bed
About once or twice a week, she plays PBSkids.org or watches 30 minutes of TV. I also have her help with chores.
Read more at Kaitlyn Preschooler Summary: 4 Years Old
This was McKenna’s typical schedule.
8:30–Wake up and eat breakfast. Get ready. She then can play with siblings.
9:30– Chores then play with Brinley.
10:30–Independent Playtime
11:30–Time with Mommy
12:00–Lunch
1:00–Play with Kaitlyn. Learning activities.
4:30—TV Time/Computer time
5:30–Dinner
6:00–Family Activities
7:00–Get ready for bed
8:00–Bedtime
Read more here McKenna Summary: 4 Years Old
Here is what was pretty consistent for summer for Brinley at this age:
8:30 or 9:00–wake up/get ready/eat breakfast
9:30–play with siblings
usually independent play for an hour in between now and lunch
12:00 –lunch. Then play.
2:30–Nap
4:30 or 5:00–Wake up. Eat dinner. Then family time.
8:00–Get ready for bedtime
8:30 or 9:00–Bedtime
Read more at Brinley Preschooler Summary: 4 Years Old {48 Months}
4 Years 3 Months Old
This is Kaitlyn’s basic schedule and routine at this age. This was a hard time period because two months were in “normal school year” with this schedule and one month was in our summer schedule. I will do her “normal” schedule here and her summer schedule next time.
We have some variation to this for playgroup and dance class, but for the most part:
7:30: Get up. Read a church children’s magazine. Get ready.
8:00ish: Breakfast
9:00: Learning intro. Then some free play with McKenna.
10:00: Independent Playtime
11:00: Learning activity. Then more playing–possible 30 minutes of PBSkids.org or TV time.
12:30: Lunch
1:00: Play with Brayden
2:00: nap
4:00: up. Play until dinner
5:00/5:30: Dinner
6:00: Free play
7:00: Start getting ready for bed
8:00: In bed
About once or twice a week, she plays PBSkids.org or watches 30 minutes of TV. I also have her help with chores.
Read more at Kaitlyn Preschooler Summary: 4.25 Years Old
This is what McKenna’s schedule was like in the summer..and it was a lazy one!
9:00–Wake up and eat breakfast. Get ready. Do chores
10:00– Playtime with siblings. Learning activity.
12:00–Lunch. Then more playing
3:00–Independent Play
4:00–Play with siblings. Sometimes TV time in here at some point.
5:30–Dinner
6:00–Family Activities
7:30–Get ready for bed
8:30–Bedtime
Read more at McKenna Preschooler Summary: 4 Years, 3-5 Months
Here is what was pretty consistent for non-school days for Brinley:
8:30 or 9:00–wake up/get ready/eat breakfast
9:30–play with siblings
usually independent play for an hour in between now and lunch
12:00 –lunch. Then play.
2:30–Nap
4:30 or 5:00–Wake up. Eat dinner. Then family time.
8:00–Get ready for bedtime
8:30 or 9:00–Bedtime
Read more here Brinley Preschooler Summary: 4 Years 3 Months
4.5 Years Old
Brayden’s schedule changed a bit from day to day. He had a “preschool” day schedule and a “non-preschool” day schedule.
Preschool Day
7:15 AM–wake, say prayers, come to my room. We then go set the table for breakfast. I get Kaitlyn up and we eat. We have a short music time. We then do a fast bath and get ready for the day.
8:05 AM–Sibling Playtime with Kaitlyn
9:05 AM–finish getting ready for school (hair, shoes on, coat, and back pack)
9:15 AM–picked up for preschool (we carpool)
12:10 PMish–home from school. Eat lunch. Play with Kaitlyn until nap time.
1:00 PM–nap (rest time)
2:00 PM–independent playtime
3:00 PM–Learning time with mom. Do chores.*
3:30 PM–nintendo time/PBSkids computer games time/TV time. When weather is nice, he will go outside instead. Sometimes he plays with neighbors instead.
4:30 PM–Daddy home. Activities vary from that point forward.
7:00/7:30 PM–start getting ready for bed. Do chore charts. Stories.
8:00 PM–in bed
Non-Preschool Day
Non-preschool day is pretty similar. We start similarly. Differences are that we take a long bath after McKenna goes down for her first nap, so sibling playtime is longer. We also start lunch earlier. Our non-preschool day is much more relaxed. It is kind of like we have three Saturdays a week now
Read more at Brayden Preschooler Summary: 4.5 Years Old
Here is Kaitlyn’s basic schedule for this age.
7:15–wake up. Get ready for school. Eat breakfast. Play with Brayden.
9:15–leave for school (she has school 3 days a week. One day, she has dance instead)
12:10–home from school
12:15–lunch. Then play with McKenna
1:30–rest time
2:30–up from rest time. Independent play.
3:30–free time. Some days video games.
4:00–play with Brayden and sibling play until dinner.
5:30–dinner. Chores. Family time
7:00–start getting ready for bed
8:00–in bed
Read more at Kaitlyn Preschooler Summary: 4.5 Years Old
Here is McKenna’s schedule. She had preschool three days a week and church one day a week, so she didn’t really have consistency from day to day exactly. Here is a school day schedule.
8:00 AM–wake up. Get dressed. Eat breakfast.
9:00 AM–go to school
12:00 noon–get home. Eat lunch. Free play.
1:30 PM–sibling play with Brinley
2:00 PM–Independent play time
3:00 PM–Rest time
3:30 PM–I check on her. If sleeping, I let her sleep. If not, I let her get up.
4:00 PM–Chores. Then possible computer time or TV time or free play
5:30 PM–Dinner
7:00 PM–Start getting ready for bed
8:00 PM–in bed
On days she is home, we do a nice long bath in the morning and also do learning activities.
Read more at McKenna Preschooler Summary: 4.5 Years Old
Here is what was pretty consistent for non-school days for Brinley:
8:30 or 9:00–wake up/get ready/eat breakfast
9:30–play with siblings
usually independent play for an hour in between now and lunch
12:00 –lunch. Then play.
2:30–Nap
4:30 or 5:00–Wake up. Eat dinner. Then family time.
8:00–Get ready for bedtime
8:30 or 9:00–Bedtime
Read more at Brinley Preschooler Summary: 4.5 Years Old!
4 Years 9 Months Old
Brayden’s schedule changed a bit from day to day. He had a “preschool” day schedule and a “non-preschool” day schedule.
Preschool Day
7:15 AM–wake, say prayers, come find me. We then go set the table for breakfast. I get Kaitlyn up and we eat. We have a short music time. We then do a fast shower and get ready for the day.
8:05 AM–Sibling Playtime with Kaitlyn
9:05 AM–finish getting ready for school (hair, shoes on, coat, and back pack)
9:15 AM–picked up for preschool (we carpool)
12:10 PMish–home from school. Eat lunch. Play with Kaitlyn until nap time.
1:00 PM–TV Time
2:00 PM–Rest Time
3:00 PM–Learning time with mom. Independent Playtime. Chores if there are some for this time.
4:30 PM–nintendo time/PBSkids computer games time/TV time. When weather is nice, he will go outside instead. Sometimes he plays with neighbors instead.
4:30 PM–Daddy home. Activities vary from that point forward.
7:00/7:30 PM–start getting ready for bed. Stories. Prayers
8:00 PM–in bed
Kaitlyn’s schedule for this age.
7:15–wake up. Get ready for school. Eat breakfast. Play with Brayden.
9:15–leave for school (she has school 3 days a week. One day, she has dance instead)
12-:10–home from school
12:15–lunch. Then play with McKenna
1:30–rest time
2:30–up from rest time. Independent play.
3:30–free time. Some days video games.
4:00–play with Brayden and sibling play until dinner.
5:30–dinner. Chores. Family time
7:00–start getting ready for bed
8:00–in bed
Read more at Kaitlyn Preschooler Summary: 4.75 Years Old
Non-Preschool Day
Non-preschool day is pretty similar. We start similarly. Differences are that we take a shower after McKenna goes down for her first nap, so sibling playtime is longer. We also start lunch earlier. Our non-preschool day is much more relaxed. It is kind of like we have three Saturdays a week now
Read more at Brayden Preschooler Summary: 4.75 Years Old
Here is McKenna’s typical schedule:
8 AM Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast. Possibly daily chore.
9 AM Go to school.
12 Noon Get home and eat lunch. Free play with Brinley.
1 PM Chore if not done before school. Then typically Independent playtime.
2:15 PM We then do a variety of things not in any particular order. We practice reading, do learning activities, draw, free play…
4 PM Play with Brayden and Kaitlyn
5-5:30 PM Dinner then time with family
7 PM Start getting ready for bed
8 PM in bed
Read more at McKenna Preschooler Summary: 4.75 years old
Here is what was pretty consistent for non-school days for Brinley:
8:00-8:30–wake up/get ready/eat breakfast
9:30–play with siblings
usually independent play for an hour in between now and lunch
12:00 –lunch. Then play.
2:30–Rest Time
4:00ish–Get up up. Play PBS Kids on the computer. Then dinner and family time.
7:00–Get ready for bedtime
7:30 or 8:00–Bedtime
Read more at Brinley Preschooler Summary: 4.75 Years Old
Your 4 Year Old Schedules and Routines
Here is a collection of daily routine samples used by readers of this blog.
4 year old GIRL
MA Mom said…
7:30am wake up and breakfast
8:30am playtime with sibling (13mo)
9:30am activity time with mom
10:15am snack
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm out and about (errands, playground, park, library, walk)
3:30pm quiet time (may include nap)
5:30pm dinner
6:30pm playtime with dad and sibling
7:30pm bath
8:00pm books with mom (sometimes sibling)
8:30pm bed
4 year old
Kristy Powers said…
7:15 or :30 eat breakfast, clean up, get dressed and ready
8:00 chores
8:30 reading lesson
8:45 drive to school (VPK)
school until 12:00
12:10 eat lunch with music or audiobooks
12:45 learning activities with me
1:15 sibling playtime
1:45 read-aloud
2:00 rest time with books
3:00 snack
3:20ish roomtime
4:15ish outside playtime
5:00 TV Time, free play
5:30 dinner with family
6:45 bathtime
7:30 clean up, brush teeth, pajamas, we read to him
8:00 bedtime
4 year old
Emily said…
Wake 7:00 am/breakfast
8:00 chores
8:30-10:00 first part of homeschooling, morning time and math time
10-12 outside play, errands, YMCA, depends on the day
12:00 lunch
Outside play
1:00 books in bed
1:30 4 year old nap/rest (some days sleeps some days doesn’t, stays in room 2 hours)
1:30 7 year old more homeschooling then journaling/rest in room for a bit
3:30 outside play til dinner
5:00 dinner
6:45 baths/showers
7:15 stories for 4 year old
7:45 stories for 7 year old
7:45 bedtime for 4 year old
8:15 bedtime for 7 year old
4 yr, 2 mo old girl
Jennifer said
6:30- Wake and plays in her room
7:00- Start day
7:30- Breakfast
8:00- Cleaning time or Outside Play
9:00- Errands, Bible study, play dates, etc.
11/11:15- Lunch
12:00- TV time
12:30- Learning Time (we did 3 yr old preschool at home)
1:30-3:30 Rest Time (she naps only 2-3 days of the week)
3:30- Snack
4:00-5:30- Sibling play or outside time
5:30-Dinner
6:00-7:00- Play with Daddy after work
7:00- Bath
7:30/7:45- Bed
4.25 yo boy
Katie {My Paisley Apron} said…
6-6:30 wake
7am allowed out of bed
7:45 breakfast
8:00 free play
9:00 learning time
10:00 outside
10:45 free play
11:15 lunch
12:00 roomtime / quiet time
1:15 playroom time on his own
3:00 outside
4:30 TV time
5:00 TV off
5:15 dinner
5:50 bath
6:15 quiet time on his bed
6:30 stories, prayers with parent
6:45-7 bedtime
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This post first appeared on this blog in January 2022