20 | Toddler Quiet Time Tips
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Quiet time has been such an important part of our daily rhythm, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned over the past year. Quiet time has brought so much structure and peace to our home, and I hope it can do the same for you.
Why We Do Quiet Time
For some reason, I’ve always known I wanted to implement a quiet time. Even when my first was just a tiny two-month-old, I was asking other moms if they did quiet time. And honestly, I was surprised when some of them didn’t! I really believe that we all need a little rest in the middle of the day—our kids and us!
I don’t like to say, “I need a break from my kids.” I work really hard to build a schedule that’s life-giving and sustainable so that I don’t feel like I need a break from my own kids, who I genuinely love being around. But even in the best circumstances, a little brain rest in the middle of the day benefits everyone and keeps us kind.
Since I hope to homeschool in the future, I’m really intentional about creating healthy rhythms now that will help make it sustainable. I want quiet time to be a part of our homeschool routine, where my kids can read or listen to audiobooks independently. So while there’s value in quiet time now, I also see it as laying the groundwork for good habits in the years to come.
How We Talk About Quiet Time
One of the things I’ve been really intentional about is using positive language when talking about quiet time. I remind my kids that rest is a blessing and a gift from God. If we have a rough quiet time—maybe there’s a lot of yelling, excuses, or constant calling for me—I’ll debrief with them afterwards and affirm that I believe rest is a blessing.
I want them to have a healthy relationship with rest and stillness, especially in a world that moves so quickly.
When We Started Quiet Time
We started quiet time as soon as my oldest stopped napping. She told me she didn’t want to nap anymore, and I said, “Okay, but you’re still going to do quiet time.” It was definitely a rough start (more on that later), but it was worth pushing through.
Right now, I have a 9-month-old, a 2-year-old, and a 3-year-old. Our quiet time usually starts around 1:00 or 1:30 in the afternoon. My 9-month-old goes down for his nap, my 2-year-old still naps pretty consistently, and my 3-year-old either naps or quietly plays in her bed. I also use this time for my own rest—reading a book or just enjoying the quiet for a little while.
How We Encourage Independent Play
Before we dive into the practical side of setting up quiet time, I need to talk about independent play. Honestly, I don’t remember all the research I did when I first started looking into this, but I know that less is more when it comes to fostering independent play.
I listened to The Montessori Baby and The Montessori Toddler, and they had some great tips. But what stuck with me the most is that fostering independent play takes less action than you’d think. It’s more about setting the stage and stepping back.
Less Toys
I’ve found that keeping our main play area minimal helps a lot. Too many toys overwhelm kids, and they don’t play as well. I used to do these elaborate toy rotations, but I’ve simplified things so much. Now, I have three big Costco bins with a simple set of toys in each one. I rotate the sets every so often, and it keeps things feeling fresh without the overwhelm.
Each set includes:
A building toy (like magnet tiles or blocks)
Something that drives (cars, trains, etc.)
A “people” toy (like a dollhouse or barn with little animals)
I also always keep books and dress-up items and dolls available because those are consistent favorites.
Less Action
I’ve never viewed myself as my kids’ entertainment, and I actually love and encourage boredom. When they’re bored, they get creative and come up with the most amazing ideas! I try to stay busy but off a screen while they’re playing because if I’m on my phone or computer, they just want to know what’s going on. But if I’m reading a book or writing in my journal, they’re much more likely to settle into their own play.
The most important thing I’ve learned? Don’t interrupt their focus. Even if they’re playing quietly and building something amazing, I resist the urge to praise them or comment on it. Interrupting breaks their concentration, and I want to build that focus muscle for the long run.
How We Started Quiet Time
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how we implemented quiet time in our home. Spoiler: It was not smooth at first.
Start Before You Need It
The best time to start quiet time is a few months before you actually need it. If you’re starting a new job tomorrow or about to have a baby next week, today is not the day to introduce quiet time. It takes time to build up to an hour of peaceful quiet time, so prepare to stick with this for the long haul.
Begin with Just a Few Minutes
When we first started, I had my daughter in her crib, which helped because she couldn’t get out. We began with just 5 minutes. I had a visual timer so she could see how much time was left, and I sat right next to her modeling my own “quiet time” reading on my kindle. I kept reinforcing, “You don’t have to sleep. This is quiet time. You can read a book or hold your baby doll.”
Once she understood and did well with 5 minutes, I began to increase the time.
When it was time to switch to a toddler bed, we didn’t have any issues since quiet time was already well-established. We’ve always been careful how we talk to her about her new bed. Instead of saying “don’t get out of your bed” we always reinforce that she can call for us or that we will get her when it is time.
Give Choices When Possible
Quiet time is nonnegotiable, but I’m happy to offer choices when it comes to the songs we sing or which book they choose to bring. On days my daughter has a hard time with me leaving, I find it helps to remind her I’ll be on the couch having my own quiet time and I’ll be back when the timer beeps. I even give her the option of whether I should run or skip to the living room and let her be the one to say “ready, set go!” if I’m running.
Quiet Time with Multiple Kids
Since my kids share a room, they do quiet time in their beds. Sometimes they’ll talk or sing together, and I allow it as long as they’re being kind to each other. Sometimes my son’s nap is delayed until my daughter is done her quiet time, but I’m okay with that.
Ready to Start Quiet Time?
If you’re thinking about starting quiet time in your home, I’d love to hear what you plan to do during quiet time! Will you read a book? Work on a craft? Build your side hustle? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
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