Parent’s Guide to Quiet Time for Kids

Naptime is the best time. Isn’t it? But what happens when your toddler or preschooler drops their afternoon nap? Scream? Run for the hills? If the end of naptime is on the horizon, there is no need to panic. This is the guide for quiet time for kids to help set everyone up for success. Yes, that downtime you almost lost will meet you soon on the couch. And no, you don’t have to give up screen time or audiobooks. In this article, I will share how to start quiet time with your toddler and children of all ages.

Table of Contents:

1. Quiet time 411
2. What is quiet time?
3. Print the Quiet Time Cheat Sheet
4. Why quiet time is good for kids
5. Why quiet time is good for YOU
6. How long should quiet time be?
7. How to set up a quiet time
8. Quiet time activities & ideas
9. What if my child is resistant to quiet time?
10. Quiet time final thoughts
11. More independent play activities & ideas
12. FAQ

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Quiet time 411

I am not willing to lose my downtime. (And I don’t have to be.)

As parents, our days operate and function around our child’s nap. It’s a time when everyone gets a break—a recharge. Busy parents with young children need alone time! You get time to check a few things off your list, drink coffee, and mindlessly scroll. I didn’t realize how much I needed this quiet time until I almost lost it.

But I sure got a wake-up call when my oldest decided to drop his nap. Suddenly, the day seemed to double in length; I got nothing done, and everyone was crabby. 

I needed to figure out how to get my son to have downtime. Something to allow his mind and body to slow down so that I could recharge myself, just like the good ‘ol napping days. 

The answer is quite simple. But knowing how to do it may be the hard part and can feel intimidating. As a mom with three kids, I am here to take the weight off your shoulders and offer a step-by-step guide on setting up quiet time for kids with unstructured play.

What is quiet time?

Like a designated nap time, quiet time is scheduled into your child’s daily routine. This dedicated time is intended to be time spent alone either in their room or a calm space, distraction-free. When you establish a space for your child to play independently, you give them the freedom to create and play. This time, unstructured play builds confidence.

Experts acknowledge that quiet time is essential and beneficial to growing children. Child psychologists agree that quiet time for kids gives them the opportunity to:

• Deepen learning and understanding
• Organize 
• Process
• Synthesize

As I mentioned, once my kids started dropping their naps at home, we began using quiet time instead of naptime. It gives their racing minds and constantly moving bodies a break.

This break is essential to having a positive, fun, and playful afternoon!

RELATED: The startup guide helps parents kick-start play-based learning in their homes so they can enjoy time with young children.  

Why quiet time is good for kids

Quiet time for kids offers so many benefits for your child:

1. Allows physical rest
2. Boosts mindfulness
3. Builds confidence
4. Develops self-awareness
5. Encourages independent play
6. Increases creativity
7. Improves bedtime routine & sleep
8. Recharges the body and mind
9. Time to decompress thoughts and feelings
10. Uninterrupted play

Why quiet time is good for YOU

As parents, we are only the best versions of ourselves for our kids when we care for ourselves first. If we don’t get time to recharge in the middle of the day, we will feel exhausted, drained, and burned out. 

Did you know that dedicating quiet time to your kids is just as crucial for them as it is for you? When you schedule quiet time for your kids, you are getting naptime back again. And think of all the things you could do to care for yourself!

• Catch up on your favorite show
• Check a few things off your to-do list
• Enjoy a mid-day coffee in peace
• Prep dinner
• Respond to emails
• Scroll Instagram
• Sit down and take a load off
• Stare out the window (only me?)
• Zip through your favorite parenting workshop

When quiet time is over, the idea is to feel rested, productive, and ready to be so much more present for your kids – so promise me no chores, okay?

How long should quiet time be?

Determining the length of quiet time is a personal choice and subjective. Ask yourself, what is my child used to?

If your child has been playing in their room rather than sleeping at naptime, start with the time they typically self-entertain. This may mean taking down many books from the shelf or asking if the time is up every 5-10 minutes. But don’t worry, we have a plan for that.

If you are starting to incorporate quiet time in your home, the best thing you can do is to start small. Slowly and gradually, add time. When you start small, you are setting them up for success.

And yes, that is a portable potty I placed in my toddler’s bedroom to help establish the habit of staying in his room during quiet time. If you have a younger child, how they will use the bathroom is something you may want to consider for a successful quiet time.

PARENTING TIP: When your child successfully navigates their daily decisions, they will feel confident and motivated in their abilities.

How to set up a quiet time

Setting your toddler or preschooler up for success is the key to establishing a healthy and happy quiet time routine. Pick the quiet time space and stick with it for a few days to build a routine for children of all ages. Set clear boundaries on how quiet time works with your child.

I like to add a quiet time bin or a visual timer to add visual cues when quiet time is over. Keeping the video monitor is a great way to keep up with what happens in your child’s room as they play.

Some children may also want their bedroom door open. Again, I like to stick to what my child is already used to with the nap time routine.

Older children also benefit from quiet time, and with practice, you will see them begin to self-entertain throughout the day from their experience. The Yoto audio player is a big hit for daily rest time.

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1. Offer your child a few ideas or activities unique to this rest period. You can create a basket of quiet time toys or suggest each child pick two toys to bring to their room. You may find they spend the time playing with a favorite stuffed animal or imaginative play.
2. Explain the plan with your child. Talk with your child about how this is the same as naptime, but now they can choose what to do in their room. Set one or two firm boundaries, but limit the quiet time rules so your child fully understands what is expected.
3. Use a visual timer – This is an excellent timer for a child who continues to poke his or her head out the door, asking when the time is up. It will also help your child better understand the concept of time.
4. Start small – begin with a short window of quiet time, and slowly increase the time. For example, you may want to start with 10 minutes on the first day and increase by 3 minutes the next day until you reach your desired length.

Quiet time activities & ideas

The ultimate goal of quiet time for kids is for your child to play independently. But sometimes, especially when you are first starting with a quiet time routine, your child may need a little inspiration or direction for their independent play.

If your child is having difficulty getting going, Breakfast invitations are an excellent way to encourage independent play. 

Here are three 3 favorite (breakfast invitation) activities that can be used as quiet time:

1. Block Play Invitation
2. What can you make with 100 Legos?
3. Tape Roads

Here are a few easy, no-setup options that your child can get themselves:

1. Audiobook
2. Building (magnetic tiles, wooden blocks)
3. Coloring
4. Puzzles
5. Reading – Here are the best books for a Kindergarten read-aloud.

What if my child is resistant to quiet time?

It is common for children to resist the idea of quiet time. As we know, children crave closeness and connection, and quiet time often means they are alone. Understandably, this may drive your child some resistance, even some power struggles. This is normal. 

Tips to help encourage quiet time:

• Positive reinforcement: Once the quiet time is over, offer a small reward (maybe a snack or a visit to the park). Here is how I reframe power struggles and allow my child to have some say in the day.
• Proximity – Kids crave connection, so start with quiet time in a space near you. Once they are comfortable with playing without you, try moving the location to their own space or bedroom to have dedicated time to play independently.
• Start small –  Begin with a short quiet time (10 minutes max) and slowly add on. The chunk of time will grow as your child becomes accustomed to the new routine.

Remember: Quiet time is beneficial for everyone in your house! Just because your child doesn’t want to be alone doesn’t mean you have to dismiss the idea of quiet time for kids altogether. Find ways that work for you, your child, and your family dynamic to make quiet time work in your home!

Quiet time final thoughts

Scheduling quiet time into your child’s daily routine can benefit their growing, developing, and learning minds. It can ultimately build their confidence with independent and creative play. 

Allowing your child to spend some solo time in their own space also gives you time to prep dinner, answer emails, and recharge with your much-deserved mid-day coffee. Don’t feel guilty about incorporating quiet time. It’s the opposite. Quiet time can create a healthier and happier home for your family! 

More independent play activities & ideas

If you are looking for more activities for your child during or after quiet time, check out some fun activities! But remember, quiet time should be self-directed. This list of toys under $25 has the best quiet-time toys!

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FAQ