17-Month-Old Schedule With One Nap

The 17-month-old sample day, hour by hour

Caregivers: part-time nanny share. The 8 activities named in the day are picked from the library for 17 months by energy and setting.

Sleep budget at 17 months

Awake windows for a 17-month-old

The longest stretch awake is 5 h 30 min (wake-up to nap), the shortest 5 h. That longest window is 15 min longer than the longest one in the 16-month sample.

Movement minutes per caregiver at 17 months

WHO: at least 180 minutes of varied activity a day. Split by awake time the goals total 185 minutes; the outdoor stretches (Nature Tote Treasure Walk and Playground Copycat Watch) cover 180.

Caregiver split: part-time nanny share

A nanny shared with another family covers the late morning through the nap, so two toddlers play side by side; a parent does the early morning and the late afternoon, and a partner does bedtime. 3 handoffs at 17 months:

• 9:00 am, Parent to Nanny: the child has been awake 2 h 15 min, with 3 h 15 min to go until the nap; morning snack is at 9:30 am, so say what was already eaten.
• 2:30 pm, Nanny to Parent: the child has been awake 15 min, with 4 h 45 min to go until bedtime; afternoon snack is at 2:30 pm, so say what was already eaten.
• 5:30 pm, Parent to Partner: the child has been awake 3 h 15 min, with 1 h 45 min to go until bedtime; dinner is at 5:15 pm, so say what was already eaten.

How 17 months differs from 16 and 18 months

The 8 activities in this 17-month day

Active picks sit in the outdoor stretches, calm ones before sleep and a self-care skill at the main meals.

• 7:45 am, parent: Nature Tote Treasure Walk

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 7:45-9:15 am stretch. It is also in the 13-month, 14-month and 16-month sample days; if the basic version is easy by 17 months, change one thing: at home, ask "Where's the pinecone?" and wait for them to pick it out of the pile. Watch for: picks a named find out of the pile. Words to model: leaf, pinecone, in the bag. Safety: Stay within arm's reach near roads, water and slopes.

• 9:15 am, nanny: Mirror Feelings Faces

  Calm, a new domain for the day (social-emotional). Sit with your child in front of the mirror at a calm, happy time, never in the middle of a meltdown. Make one big happy face and say "Happy!" with a smile in your voice. Pause and watch your child's face in the mirror. Words to model: happy, sad, surprised. Watch for: looks at your face or their own in the mirror when you change expression. Safety: Use a shatterproof acrylic mirror or a securely mounted wall mirror, never a loose glass one.

• 9:45 am, nanny: Turn-to-Fit Slot Box

  Calm, a new domain for the day (fine motor). Cut a long slot a little wider than a lid and, at the other end, a round hole a little bigger than a ball. Post one lid through the slot slowly while your child watches: "Turn it... in!" Hand over a lid held flat, so it does not line up with the slot yet, and wait. Words to model: turn, in, round. Watch for: turns a lid in the hand to line it up with the slot. Safety: Use lids and balls far too big to fit through a toilet-paper tube, and tape over any sharp cardboard edges around the openings.

• 11:30 am, nanny: Cheers! Open-Cup Clink

  A mealtime skill practiced during lunch. Stick a small tape circle on the table where your child's cup lives. Pour a little water into every cup, then lift yours: "Cheers!" Clink gently, take a slow sip and set your cup down with a soft "Down." Words to model: cheers, sip, down. Watch for: lifts the cup when others lift theirs. Safety: Unbreakable cups only, and keep hot drinks well out of your child's reach.

• 2:45 pm, parent: Playground Copycat Watch

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 2:45-4:15 pm stretch. It is also in the 12-month, 13-month, 14-month, 15-month and 16-month sample days; if the basic version is easy by 17 months, change one thing: visit the same playground at the same time each week so your child sees familiar children. Watch for: looks back at you while near other children. Words to model: too, same, friend. Safety: Check the ground for bottle caps, cigarette butts and other small litter before your child sits down.

• 4:15 pm, parent: Two Lumps Under the Blanket

  Calm, a new domain for the day (cognitive). Spread a small blanket on the floor and bunch it into two lumps a short way apart. While your child watches, push the ball under one lump: 'Ball goes under here.' Ask 'Where's the ball?' and wait, keeping your eyes off the right lump. Words to model: under, where's the ball?, not there. Watch for: searches the correct lump on the first try. Safety: Clear the floor around the blanket so an eager lunge does not end against a furniture corner.

• 5:15 pm, parent: Stir the Big Pot

  A mealtime skill practiced during dinner. Put the empty pot on a towel on the floor or a low table, well away from the stove. Tip one measuring cup into the pot yourself: "Oats in." Hand your child the next cup and wait for them to tip it. Words to model: stir, in, round and round. Watch for: tips a cup into the pot rather than beside it. Safety: Cold, ready-to-eat ingredients only; the pot stays off the stove and knives and hot pans stay out of reach.

• 5:45 pm, partner: Rainstorm on a Baking Sheet

  Calm, a new domain for the day (creativity & pretend). Turn the baking sheet over on the floor or table between you. Tap softly with your fingertips: "Drip, drip, little rain." Pause and wait for your child to tap too, then tap along with them. Words to model: drip, rain, loud. Watch for: taps along after your model. Safety: Check the baking sheet for sharp or rusty edges first.

Plan the rest of 17 months