The Simple Rhythm of Daily Quiet Time in Our Home- and why it works

Small, daily rhythms have become the anchors to our day— so over the next few months I’ll create a series of short and sweet blog posts that highlight many of these rhythms we do daily. If you haven’t already checked out my Daily Chores for Kids post, you can begin there!

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There’s a distinct memory I have as a newly stay-at-home mom— one I’ll likely remember forever, maybe because it kept repeating in different forms day after day. Having just resigned from a teaching job that I loved to stay home with my two young children, I felt as if each day was a similar repeat of the previous one.

Nursing the baby, entertaining the toddler, attempting to leave the house for social engagement but balancing being on a napping schedule, and trying to learn how to actually thrive at home with these tiny little humans.

I felt blessed to be able to stay at home with my kids, eager for the slower, more intentional life I wanted for our growing family. But consequently, I felt like I was never alone. Everywhere I went, a child somehow needed me. To hold, comfort, nurse, feed, answer questions, protect, and the list goes on.

Now hear me when I say these things that I’m not complaining at the role of a mother in the least bit, one I’ve grown to love tremendously, but it was a season that seemed too full to handle some days.

Through that frustration emerged an idea that became a literal life-saver. That was the season I discovered the rhythm of afternoon quiet time.

This was a boundary that allowed me to breathe and a reset button for everyone. We started it slowly and now, 8 years later, it’s become one of our anchors to our homeschooling lifestyle.

It’s All About Consistency

“But how do you actually get a child to stay in their quiet time space?” is a question I’ve heard countless times from mamas who crave a little solitude from the fullness of raising young children. I’ll answer with something my college cross-country coach frequently said to drive home a point— it’s not rocket science, it’s consistency.

In this post, I’ll share with you my system of teaching young kids how to do afternoon quiet time independently, cooperatively, and effectively. It’s become a simple, tried-and-true rhythm that’s been etched into the portion of our day and continues to bring that little bit of stillness we all need.

And not because it’s this grand, elaborate system, but one we do consistently every single day that’s become a learned habit for us all.

What Quiet Time Looks Like in Our Home

We start at 1:30 PM. Every day.
After lunch, clean-up, and maybe a story or a walk, each child goes to their designated space. The baby/toddler naps and the older kids settle in for a time of rest, quiet play, or independent reading. The rule is simple— we each go to our own space, and we stay there.

Everyone is in their own space.
This is key. Separate spaces help minimize conflict, reduce overstimulation, and allow each child to settle into something calmly. The short time of creating space away from everyone else allows our bodies and minds to rest and feel rejuvenated. Some kids are in bedrooms, others in the basement or playroom, and I’m in my favorite spot in the living room.

Timers create independence.
For non-readers or younger kids, we use visual timers (another game-changer in our home) so they can see how much time is left. No more asking “Am I done yet?” every three minutes. For older ones, a digital timer they can set themselves gives them autonomy and helps them take ownership of the rhythm.

We start small, then build.
We usually begin with just 30 minutes of quiet time when transitioning from nap time to quiet time and practice that consistently. Once that feels easy, we gradually build up to 60 or even 90 minutes. It’s a skill like anything else—one we practice until it’s able to be done well.

We prepare quiet-time activities.
Each child has a bin or basket of quiet-time choices: chapter books, sticker books, puzzles, coloring pages, LEGOs, or small toys. The goal is to keep it low-key, low-mess, and engaging—something they look forward to and not resist.

Simple rules make it work.
During quiet time, my rule is simple— no one comes out to ask for snacks, questions, or time checks. If a child needs help, they know it can wait until the timer goes off. It’s a time for solitude—for all of us. This rule may sound strict, but if it’s not enforced my kids would be coming to be with requests and questions a dozen times!

We end with “together quiet time.”
Once the individual time is up, the kids can go play quietly together in the basement. This short shared time gives them space to reconnect before any napping siblings wake up and the rest of the day resumes.

Why We Don’t Skip Quiet Time

Especially during our homeschool year, afternoon quiet time is a non-negotiable part of our rhythm— because it works. It anchors the day. It gives each child a predictable pocket of calm. It gives me time to rest, write, catch up on computer tasks, or just sit and relax.

As a homeschooling family, we’re home together (all 6 of us) nearly every day. Afternoon quiet time gives each of us the space we need to thrive in this lifestyle and continue to maintain a healthy balance of learning, growing, and being together at home.

If you appreciated this post and know someone else who would benefit from it, I’d love if you would share it! As always, thank you so much for being here and following along with my journey!