31-Month-Old Schedule With One Nap (2 years 7 months)

The 31-month-old sample day, hour by hour

Caregivers: two working parents and a grandparent. The 8 activities named in the day are picked from the library for 31 months by energy and setting.

Sleep budget at 31 months

Awake windows for a 31-month-old

The longest stretch awake is 5 h 45 min (nap to bedtime), the shortest 5 h 30 min. The longest window is the same length as in the 30-month sample.

Movement minutes per caregiver at 31 months

WHO: at least 180 minutes of varied activity a day. Split by awake time the goals total 180 minutes; the outdoor stretches (Kick It Back to Me and Egg Carton Color Hunt) cover 180.

Caregiver split: two working parents and a grandparent

Both parents work away from home: one does the wake-up and breakfast, a grandparent covers the working day including the nap, and the other parent takes the evening. 2 handoffs at 31 months:

• 8:30 am, Parent to Grandparent: the child has been awake 1 h 15 min, with 4 h 15 min to go until the nap.
• 5:30 pm, Grandparent to Partner: the child has been awake 3 h 15 min, with 2 h 30 min to go until bedtime; dinner is at 6:00 pm, so say what was already eaten.

How 31 months differs from 30 and 32 months

The 8 activities in this 31-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: Kick It Back to Me

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 8:15-9:45 am stretch. It is also in the 22-month and 24-month sample days; if the basic version is easy by 31 months, change one thing: kick the ball a little to one side so your child has to move to it before kicking. Watch for: waits for "your turn" before running at the ball. 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.

• 9:45 am, grandparent: Picture-Label Toy Homes

  Calm, a new domain for the day (practical life). Draw a quick picture of each toy group on a sticky note and stick one on each box. Hold up a block, point to the block picture and drop it in: "Blocks live here." Hand your child a toy and wait while they look at the pictures. Words to model: goes here, same, where does it go?. Watch for: looks at the pictures before dropping a toy. Safety: Tape the notes down if your child peels and chews paper, and stay nearby.

• 10:15 am, grandparent: Things That Go Together

  Calm, a new domain for the day (cognitive). Lay out one half of each pair (pot, bowl, shoe) in a row on the floor. Hand over one partner, such as the spoon, and wait to see where it goes. Respond to their choice: 'Spoon and bowl! We eat with them.' Words to model: goes with, same, spoon and bowl. Watch for: puts the partner object with the right item. Safety: Use unbreakable items only: no glass bowls or ceramic plates.

• 12:00 pm, grandparent: Snack Tub Lid Twist

  A mealtime skill practiced during lunch. It is also in the 20-month and 23-month sample days; if the basic version is easy by 31 months, change one thing: close it as firmly as you normally would. Watch for: regrips and keeps turning after the first twist. 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.

• 2:45 pm, grandparent: Egg Carton Color Hunt

  Active and outdoors: the core of the 2:45-4:15 pm stretch. It is also in the 28-month and 30-month sample days; if the basic version is easy by 31 months, change one thing: name a color and ask your child to find something that color before showing the cup. Watch for: brings something of the color you name. Words to model: brown, same color, find. Safety: Watch for anything going into the mouth, and wash hands when you get home.

• 4:15 pm, grandparent: Family Feelings Photo Cards

  Calm, a new domain for the day (social-emotional). Ahead of time, print photos of family members each making one clear face: happy, sad, surprised or sleepy. Sit together and show one photo: "Look, Grandpa is surprised! His mouth is open." Pause and let your child look, point or make the same face. Words to model: happy, sad, surprised. Watch for: points to the right photo when you name a feeling. Safety: Print on thick paper or card and take away any photo that gets chewed into soggy pieces.

• 6:00 pm, partner: Small-Pitcher Pour at Snack

  A mealtime skill practiced during dinner. It is also in the 24-month, 25-month and 27-month sample days; if the basic version is easy by 31 months, change one thing: switch to a slightly bigger, heavier jug. Watch for: reaches for the sponge after a spill. Words to model: slow, stop, full. Safety: Pouring and drinking both happen seated.

• 6:30 pm, partner: Cardboard Garage Parking Talk

  Calm, a new domain for the day (language). Cut two or three doorways in the side of a box to make a garage. Sit with your child, drive one car in slowly and say "Car in." Hand them a car and wait to see what they do and say. Words to model: car in, car out, red car. Watch for: says one word about the cars, such as "car" or "in". Safety: Use cars larger than a toilet-paper-tube opening, with fixed wheels and no button batteries.

Plan the rest of 31 months