23-Month-Old Schedule With One Nap

The 23-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 23 months by energy and setting.

Sleep budget at 23 months

Awake windows for a 23-month-old

Both stretches awake last 5 h 15 min. That longest window is 15 min shorter than the longest one in the 22-month sample.

Movement minutes per caregiver at 23 months

WHO: at least 180 minutes of varied activity a day. Split by awake time the goals total 185 minutes; the outdoor stretches (Curb Step-Ups on Walks and Two-Hoop Nature Sort) 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 23 months:

• 9:00 am, Parent to Nanny: the child has been awake 1 h 45 min, with 3 h 30 min to go until the nap.
• 2:30 pm, Nanny to Parent: the child has been awake 0 min, with 5 h 15 min to go until bedtime; afternoon snack is at 2:45 pm, so say what was already eaten.
• 5:30 pm, Parent to Partner: the child has been awake 3 h, with 2 h 15 min to go until bedtime; dinner is at 5:45 pm, so say what was already eaten.

How 23 months differs from 22 and 24 months

The 8 activities in this 23-month day

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

• 8:15 am, parent: Curb Step-Ups on Walks

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 8:15-9:45 am stretch. It is also in the 21-month sample day; if the basic version is easy by 23 months, change one thing: offer one finger instead of a whole hand. Watch for: steps down leading with one foot. Words to model: down, step, hold my hand. Safety: Skip wet, icy or mossy steps.

• 9:45 am, nanny: Two of a Kind Kitchen Match

  Calm, a new domain for the day (early concepts). Put one of each object in a row on the floor and keep the twins in your lap. Place a spoon next to the other spoon and say 'Same! Spoon with spoon.' Hand your child the cup and pause while they look along the row. Words to model: same, cup with cup, spoon. Watch for: looks back and forth between two objects before placing one. Safety: Choose objects with no sharp edges or small parts; everything should be bigger than a toilet-paper-tube opening.

• 10:15 am, nanny: Pot Drum Echo Turns

  Active, a new domain for the day (social-emotional). Sit facing your child with one upturned pot and one spoon each. Tap your pot twice and say "My turn," then lay your spoon down and say "Your turn." Wait quietly for a few seconds, looking at your child's pot. Words to model: my turn, your turn, fast. Watch for: waits, even briefly, while you take your turn. Safety: Use small, light pots or plastic bowls; keep heavy pans and the stove out of reach.

• 11:45 am, nanny: Snack Tub Lid Twist

  A mealtime skill practiced during lunch. It is also in the 20-month sample day; if the basic version is easy by 23 months, change one thing: close the lid with one full turn. Watch for: turns the lid in the opening direction. Words to model: open, closed, more please. Safety: Use a plastic tub only, never glass, and never a container that once held medicine or cleaning products.

• 3:00 pm, parent: Two-Hoop Nature Sort

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 3:00-4:30 pm stretch. It is also in the 20-month sample day; if the basic version is easy by 23 months, change one thing: skip the first example of each kind and just say the rule. Watch for: carries the bucket a few steps without help. Words to model: leaf, same, this one goes here. Safety: Check the area for animal droppings, glass and sharp sticks first, and wash hands afterwards.

• 4:30 pm, parent: Grocery Tote Unpack

  Active, a new domain for the day (practical life). Take out anything heavy, glass, sharp or cold first, then set the tote on the floor. Pull out one item, name it and walk it to the cupboard: "Bread goes here." Hold the tote open toward your child and wait. Words to model: bag, out, put away. Watch for: pulls out an item and carries it to the cupboard. Safety: Remove glass jars, cans with sharp edges, cleaning products, medicines and anything heavy before your child reaches in.

• 5:45 pm, partner: Soft-Cube Fork Spearing

  A mealtime skill practiced during dinner. It is also in the 20-month sample day; if the basic version is easy by 23 months, change one thing: stop steadying the plate rim. Watch for: spears a cube and gets it to the mouth. Words to model: poke, stuck, bite. Safety: Cook vegetables until they squash between your fingers; skip hard raw pieces.

• 6:15 pm, partner: Teddy Wash, Dry and Tuck-In

  Calm, a new domain for the day (creativity & pretend). Say "Teddy is dirty! Bath time," and rub teddy with the dry washcloth: "Wash, wash." Hand over the cloth and wait for your child to wash a paw or tummy. Pick up the towel and say "Now dry," then pause to see if they reach for it first. Words to model: wash, dry, bedtime. Watch for: copies a washing or drying action on teddy. Safety: Keep this a dry pretend bath; any water play needs an adult within arm's reach throughout.

Plan the rest of 23 months