Daily Quiet Time

That’s correct. I often observe parents and teachers trying to do so many great activities with their children, but they tend to forget that there is educational value in taking a moment to intentionally slow down and take a break.

Quiet time has many benefits for children of all ages.

• Encourages self-regulation and calmness

• Encourages imaginative play and problem-solving

• Time to reflect and relax

• Encourages independence and self-contentment

• Allows time for all the lessons of the day to be absorbed by the brain

In our home, we make quiet time a priority. When our daughter was less than 2 years old, quiet time was nap time. At that age, she also had one short quiet independent play session in the afternoon. As she has grown, we have transitioned from naptime and a short quiet time to one long quiet time. We started quiet time with 20 minutes and over a period of time, quiet time is now 60-90 minutes.

Quiet time in our home means our daughter goes to her room where she has her bed and a basket of stuffed animals. At times we have put a small basket of toys in her room with 3-5 quiet items such as a pop-it, small books, fidget toys, etc. She often pretends her animals are babies and they have a lot of fun during quiet time. The rules for quiet time in our home are: 

1) You do not have to nap but you are expected to be quiet. Quiet voices are ok. 

2) You can leave your room to use the bathroom or if you need a parent. 

3) Stay in your room until your timer goes off. Quiet time can include turning off all the noise and lights in your home. 

If you prefer quiet activities, you could try putting a puzzle together, reading or looking at books, making a small craft such as a bracelet, stretching, practicing yoga, etc. during your quiet time. Remember, you decide the rules for quiet time in your home and it will take you time to establish what works well for you and your family. Establishing quiet time is not always easy, however, it is beneficial for you and everyone in your family. Good luck and reach out to me personally if you need support.

Mindfulness Craft

Materials

Pipe cleaner (yarn or sting can also be used)

10 Beads (dried pasta can also be used)

Directions

Gather materials.

Tie a knot at one end of your pipe cleaner. The knot should be big enough to keep the beads from being pulled off the end.

Thread 10 beads onto your pipe cleaner.

Tie a knot at the second end of your pipe cleaner. You can choose to keep it straight or to make it a bracelet. 

As you slide the first bead to the end of the pipe cleaner, inhale slowly.

As you slide the second bead to the end of the pipe cleaner, exhale slowly.

Repeat for each bead.

Focus on intentionally breathing slowly.

About the Author

Kortnee is a military spouse, a yoga teacher, a homeschool mom, and a published author with more than a decade of experience in early and elementary childhood education. Her goal is to take parents on a journey with their children by integrating more opportunities for intentional learning daily through play. If you would like more activity ideas follow us on Instagram @intentionallearning.