24-Month-Old Schedule With One Nap (2 years)

The 24-month-old sample day, hour by hour

Caregivers: parent, nanny, then partner. The 8 activities named in the day are picked from the library for 24 months by energy and setting.

Sleep budget at 24 months

Awake windows for a 24-month-old

The longest stretch awake is 5 h 45 min (wake-up to nap), the shortest 5 h 15 min. That longest window is 30 min longer than the longest one in the 23-month sample.

Movement minutes per caregiver at 24 months

WHO: at least 180 minutes of varied activity a day. Split by awake time the goals total 185 minutes; the outdoor stretches (Long Stick, Short Stick and Kick It Back to Me) cover 180.

Caregiver split: parent, nanny, then partner

One parent covers the morning through lunch and the start of the nap, a nanny takes the afternoon from the end of the nap, and a partner handles dinner, bath and bedtime. 2 handoffs at 24 months:

• 1:00 pm, Parent to Nanny: the child is asleep (nap 12:45-2:30 pm), so nanny starts with 1 h 30 min of nap left; note when it started and how settling went.
• 5:00 pm, Nanny to Partner: the child has been awake 2 h 30 min, with 2 h 45 min to go until bedtime.

Fitting the 24-month checkup into this day

How 24 months differs from 23 and 25 months

The 8 activities in this 24-month day

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

• 8:00 am, parent: Big Kid Leads the Mirror Dance

  Active, a new domain for the day (social-emotional). Ask the older child to pick three easy moves, such as clap, stomp and spin. Stand both children side by side facing the mirror and start singing a familiar song. Have the older child do one move and freeze; you pause and wait. Words to model: clap, stomp, spin. Watch for: watches the older child's moves in the mirror or directly. Safety: Clear toys and slippery rugs from the floor and keep the dancing away from table corners.

• 10:00 am, parent: Long Stick, Short Stick

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 10:00-11:30 am stretch. Walk together and collect a few sticks into the bucket, choosing ones no longer than your child's arm. Lay two sticks side by side with the ends lined up and say 'Long stick. Short stick.' Hand your child another stick and pause while they place it near either one. Words to model: long, short, longer. Watch for: squats to pick up a stick and stands again without help. Safety: Keep sticks shorter than your child's arm, with no sharp or split ends, and no running while holding one.

• 11:30 am, parent: Big Paper Brush Painting

  Calm, a new domain for the day (creativity & pretend). Tape the paper to the floor or a low table and put a little paint in a heavy dish. Make one long stroke and one dot yourself, saying "Swish" and "Dot." Hand over the brush and wait; let them paint however they like. Words to model: paint, swish, dot. Watch for: dips the brush and brings paint to the paper. Safety: Use only washable, non-toxic paint labeled for young children, and pour out a small amount.

• 12:00 pm, parent: Small-Pitcher Pour at Snack

  A mealtime skill practiced during lunch. Put the open cup and a measuring cup with a little water on the baking sheet in front of your seated child. Pour slowly into your own cup first, spout resting on the rim: "Slow pour." Slide the measuring cup over and wait. Words to model: pour, slow, stop. Watch for: rests the spout on the rim before tipping. Safety: Plain water only to start, never hot drinks, and keep kettles and teapots far from the tray.

• 3:00 pm, nanny: Kick It Back to Me

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 3:00-4:30 pm stretch. It is also in the 22-month sample day; if the basic version is easy by 24 months, change one thing: take one step back after every few turns. Watch for: kicks toward you rather than in any direction. Words to model: your turn, kick, stop. Safety: Play on a flat, fenced or enclosed area away from roads, with a soft ball that does not hurt if it hits a face.

• 4:30 pm, nanny: Silly Sock Directions

  Active, a new domain for the day (language). Pile rolled socks next to a laundry basket and sit facing your child. Give one silly direction, "Put a sock on your head!", and laugh together when they do it. Then give a two-step direction: "Pick up a sock, then throw it in the basket." Words to model: first... then..., on your head, in the basket. Watch for: completes both steps in the order given. Safety: Clear a soft, open patch of floor so jumping and throwing do not end near furniture edges or stairs.

• 5:45 pm, partner: Hand-Wash Picture Steps

  A mealtime skill practiced during dinner. Draw five simple pictures on sticky notes: a water drop, a soap pump, two hands, a water drop again and a towel. Stick them in order on the wall or mirror next to the sink at your child's eye level. Before a meal, point to the first picture: "Water first. Then what?" Words to model: first, next, soap. Watch for: points to the next picture without help. Safety: Test the water is lukewarm on your wrist and keep the hot tap out of reach.

• 6:15 pm, partner: Bubble Jar Twist and Blow

  Calm, a new domain for the day (fine motor). Close the bubble bottle with a loose quarter turn and hand it to your child: "Bubbles? Open, please!" Wait while they try; if they look to you, point at the lid and make a twisting motion with your hand in the air. Once it is open, take the wand and blow a few bubbles, then pause and hold the bottle out again. Words to model: open, twist, more bubbles. Watch for: holds the bottle upright with one hand while twisting with the other. Safety: Pour only a little bubble liquid into the bottle so a spill stays small, and keep it away from mouths and eyes.

Plan the rest of 24 months