How to (actually) get stuff done with toddlers

Toddler life is adorable, but it isn’t exactly the picture of productivity. As a parent, your days are full of giggles, endless snack requests, and unexpected messes. Sometimes, it may seem impossible to keep the household moving forward when little hands are always tugging at your sleeve.

But here’s the truth: Regardless of what you want to “get done” each day, your children are always the priority. For parents who are work-focused, it helps to remember that nurturing them matters more than any checklist. Productivity still matters, but it simply looks different when you’re raising toddlers.

Here are some practical and grace-filled ways to make accomplishing daily tasks with little ones feel a little more doable. 

1. Invite toddlers to help

Toddlers love to be included. It may take longer, and it may not look perfect, but giving them small “jobs” both keeps them occupied and teaches responsibility.

• Hand you socks while you fold laundry
  
• Put spoons on the table for dinner
  
• Hold the dustpan as you sweep
  

Chores can even become games when you turn them into races, sing songs, or give lots of praise. You get a small hand with the task, and your child gets to feel proud of helping.

2. Trade shifts with your spouse

One of the best survival strategies is to take turns. While one parent manages the kids, the other can focus on a priority task — whether that’s cooking dinner, answering emails, or simply having a few quiet minutes to regroup.

Communicate daily about what matters most and how to make it happen. Even 30 minutes of focused time can feel like a gift, and switching off helps to avoid burnout.

3. Think in small time blocks, not hours

Uninterrupted stretches of productivity are rare with toddlers. Instead of aiming for long hours, think in smaller increments: What can I accomplish in the next 20, 10, or even just 5 minutes?

Timers and playlists can help create natural boundaries. Celebrate the small wins — sending a couple of emails, unloading the dishwasher, or tidying one corner of the room. These moments of progress add up over the course of the day.

4. Encourage independent play

Independent play is one of the best ways to create space for getting things done. While they play, you can focus on completing a task nearby.

• Set out books, blocks, or building tiles
  
• Rotate toys and books so they feel fresh and engaging
  
• Play their favorite music or an audiobook in the background to extend attention
  

This time not only allows you to focus, but it also fosters imagination and self-confidence in your child — all without screens! 

5. Contain the chaos

Sometimes, to clean up one mess, you’ll need to redirect toddlers to another space — where a new mess might appear. And that’s ok — it’s all part of this season.

Keep a few “busy bins” with crayons, playdough, or sensory toys tucked away for moments when you need them most. When pulled out sparingly, they can buy you 15 or 20 minutes of focus. And when the bins are emptied, remember: A house full of life will look lived in, and something in another place was accomplished.

6. Break tasks into smaller pieces

Instead of waiting for a large block of time, look for ways to break household tasks into smaller steps.

• Think about what’s for dinner while you’re “nap-trapped” in a rocking chair
  
• Chop vegetables or marinate meat earlier in the day when you have a few minutes free
  
• Lay out tomorrow’s clothes or pack bags in little pieces instead of all at once
  

Small steps throughout the day make big tasks feel lighter — and prevent the evening scramble from feeling overwhelming.

7. Practice graceful surrender

Even with all the strategies in the world, some days will simply not go as planned. The list stays undone, the house feels messy, and you are tired.

That’s okay. Toddlers aren’t interruptions to your real work; they are the real work. Give yourself grace, choose presence over perfection, and remember: They will only be this little once.