Getting a little one settled into her daily quiet time has been the name of the game around here once more. While my older children are all quiet time pros – and have actually grown to cherish their quiet time – my littlest was brand new to the idea.

As I have helped little Norah settle into the idea of having an independent, quiet play time each afternoon, I thought of my best quiet time tips to support you along this journey as well.

Here is a video for you outlining my 5 best quiet time tips PLUS sharing with you 2 awesome freebies that make quiet time a breeze. (If you are a reader more than a watcher, this video is written out for you below as a blog post)

And if that video isn’t working (it does tend to be fussy!), here is the same video but inserted from YouTube:

If you are ready to dive into quiet time in your home, I would love to support you! Right now I have bundled all of my Quiet Time resources together for an 80% savings. You receive my life-changing, step-by-step guide for getting quiet time to WORK, my 2 quiet time eBooks to get you started with the easiest and most engaging ideas for quiet time, AND a whole year in my Quiet Time Club where you receive monthly emails with your quiet time activities for that month! Get all of that for only $28 right here >>> The Quiet Time Bundle

Now on to the tips! Here are my 5 best quiet time tips, and those two awesome freebies as well:

Quiet Time Tip #1: Choose the Same Time Every Day

Little ones thrive on consistency. Help them get used to quiet time by having this special time every single day of the week at right around the same time each day. In our home, after lunch is finished everyone knows to find a quiet spot and have an hour to themselves. Even on the weekend!

Quiet Time Tip #2: Start Slow and Build

We like to start very slow with quiet time so children have a chance to get used to this time and see it as a special thing! With my little Norah who has just turned 2, I started with 5 minutes a day, adding another 5 minutes once she had success. Slow and steady and she is learning to love her quiet time, build her confidence, and build her independence as well. 

Quiet Time Tip #3: Stay Close By and Be Flexible

Staying in the same room as your little one might be helpful at first. For Norah, I found staying within eye sight but keeping myself busy was key. In fact, I found having my back to her was the most effective. Some of my little ones needed me to be out of sight in order to dive into their independent play. Be flexible and see what is best for your child. 

Quiet Time Tip #4: Have Connecting Time First

This is the second biggest tip! This one can be a complete game changer. Our little ones will be much more able to dive into independent play if they have had a few minutes of our undivided attention first. Snuggle in to read or do a puzzle or quiet activity together first so your little one’s ‘bucket is filled’!

Quiet Time Tip #5: Make it Special

And this one is THE biggest tip! Have some special toys, quiet time bins, or quiet time activities that are only used for quiet time. When quiet time is done, these special toys go away until the next quiet time. This keeps these activities very special and allows little ones to engage deeply. 

And here are my two Quiet Time Freebies to support you on this journey:

Quiet Bin Labels:

These printable quiet bin labels will make filling your quiet bins much easier. Instead of needing to come up with a whole bunch of different ideas, you can just print off these labels and think of one idea for each bin. I find it so much easier to come up with one letters activity, or one fine motor activity, than trying to come up with 5 new ideas each week! Of course, you could also grab my Quiet Time Bundle and have all this work done for you!

Quiet Time Play Mats:

Print off these quiet time play mats and watch the magical quiet time unfold! Little ones love engaging deeply in imaginative play. These quiet time play mats can be taped to the floor, added to a cardboard box, or even put on a bookshelf to make an adorable doll house or outdoor scene. Pop them in page protectors and add some playdough. The options are endless!