A child’s day already has a script: wake up, wash, eat, go to school, come home, sleep. Because the same actions happen every day, daily routine words are some of the easiest English phrases to practise and remember.
This guide gives you 40 daily routine words and short phrases for kids, in four parts of the day. Each one has a simple example sentence. Pick the part of the day you are in right now and start there.
Say the phrase while your child does the action. When they brush their teeth, say “brush my teeth”. The action explains the words, and tomorrow’s routine brings them back.
All 40 phrases and examples on 4 A4 pages, with tick boxes and a blank routine chart. Free to print for home or classroom.
40 daily routine words and phrases for kids
The phrases are written from your child’s point of view (“I wash my hands”) so they can say them back in the same form.
1. Morning
| Phrase | Simple example |
|---|---|
| wake up | I wake up in the morning. |
| get up | Get up, it is time for school. |
| wash my face | I wash my face with water. |
| brush my teeth | I brush my teeth twice a day. |
| take a bath | I take a warm bath. |
| get dressed | I get dressed by myself. |
| comb my hair | Please comb my hair. |
| eat breakfast | I eat breakfast with my family. |
| pack my bag | I pack my bag for school. |
| say goodbye | I say goodbye at the door. |
2. At school
| Phrase | Simple example |
|---|---|
| walk to school | We walk to school together. |
| say good morning | I say good morning to my teacher. |
| sit down | Please sit down. |
| open my book | Open your book, please. |
| listen | I listen to the teacher. |
| write | I write my name. |
| raise my hand | I raise my hand to ask. |
| line up | We line up at the door. |
| eat lunch | We eat lunch at school. |
| play with friends | I play with my friends. |
3. After school
| Phrase | Simple example |
|---|---|
| come home | I come home after school. |
| take off my shoes | I take off my shoes at the door. |
| wash my hands | I wash my hands with soap. |
| eat a snack | I eat a snack after school. |
| do my homework | I do my homework at the table. |
| play outside | I play outside in the park. |
| read a book | I read a book before dinner. |
| help at home | I help at home. |
| water the plants | I water the plants. |
| set the table | I set the table for dinner. |
4. Evening and bedtime
| Phrase | Simple example |
|---|---|
| have dinner | We have dinner together. |
| clear the table | I clear the table after dinner. |
| clean up | It is time to clean up. |
| put on pyjamas | I put on my pyjamas. |
| read a story | Please read me a story. |
| turn off the light | Turn off the light, please. |
| say good night | I say good night to everyone. |
| go to bed | It is time to go to bed. |
| close my eyes | I close my eyes. |
| sleep | I sleep all night. |
Say it while you do it
You do not need to teach the phrases separately. Say them out loud as you go, in short sentences: “We wash our hands.” “Now we eat.” Let your child join in on the last word first, then the whole phrase when they are ready.
Keep it light. If your child says the phrase in Hindi, Telugu or another home language, say the English phrase back and carry on with the routine.
Words that put steps in order
Routines are a natural place to practise words like first, then and next. They help a child say what happens in order, rather than naming a single action.
First, I wake up.
Then, I wash my face.
Next, I brush my teeth.
After that, I eat breakfast.
Finally, I go to school.
A 5-minute game: what comes next?
What comes next?
- Pick one part of the day, such as the morning.
- Say the first action and do it together: “I wake up.”
- Ask “What comes next?”
- Let your child answer with a word or a phrase, and say the full phrase back.
- Swap roles: your child does an action, and you guess what it is.
Make a routine chart
Write or draw four or five steps of the morning on a sheet of paper and put it where your child can see it. Point to each step as you say the phrase, and tick it when it is done. The printable includes a blank chart to fill in.
If your child understands but does not answer
Routines are a gentle way to start, because the action gives your child something to point to or copy. Begin with one word from the phrase, such as “brush”, then move to the whole phrase. This guide has more ways to build speaking confidence, and these everyday routines show how to fit practice into the day.
Every day already has the lesson in it
Waking up, eating, walking to school, coming home and going to bed happen whether or not you plan an English lesson. Pair a few of those moments with a few of these phrases, and your child hears them in the right place, at the right time, again tomorrow.
For more everyday vocabulary, try the 100 easy English words for kids, or let your child practise on screen with Flucie Create.
Frequently asked questions
What daily routine words should kids learn first?
Start with the actions your child does every day: wake up, wash, eat and sleep. Morning and bedtime phrases are a good starting point because they happen at the same time each day.
How do I teach daily routine in English to a child?
Say the phrase while your child does the action, then repeat it at the same moment tomorrow. Let your child join in when they are ready.
Should kids learn single words or full phrases for routines?
Short phrases such as 'wash my hands' work well because children hear them together with the action. You can break them into single words later.
Can I do this if English is not my first language?
Yes. Use the phrases you are comfortable saying, say them slowly while you do the action, and repeat them each day. Your child hears the same phrase in the same moment.
Is there a printable routine chart?
Yes. The PDF on this page lists all 40 phrases with a tick box for each and includes a blank routine chart to fill in. It is free to print for home or classroom use.
Keep reading
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Written by the Flucie team. See how we make our content or send a correction to hello@flucie.com.
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