Methodology · Schedules
Toddler schedule
1y 6m – 3y · 21 recurring slots
18–36 months is one long nap, two-word combinations into sentences, the rise of pretend play, and the start of self-regulation as parallel play moves toward shared play. The schedule emphasises predictable routines (which scaffold emotional regulation) and language-rich, body-involved activities.
The recurring week
All seven days share the same template at this age — the rhythm is the point. Filter by slot type to see one thread of the day at a time.
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The week, at a glance
One afternoon nap, sentence-length language, pretend play, peer interest, big feelings. The schedule emphasises predictability (which scaffolds regulation) and long outdoor blocks (which power both sleep and mood).Meals
Three meals + 2 snacks. Family-style serving (the toddler chooses portion + serves self when possible) supports food autonomy and reduces mealtime conflict (Satter, "Division of Responsibility").Sleep
11–14 hours total, one afternoon nap (~1–2 h) + 10–13 h overnight (AAP). Drop the nap entirely between 2.5–4y — the schedule keeps it until the child consistently doesn't fall asleep.Body
WHO under-5 guidelines recommend ≥180 minutes of varied physical activity per day, with at least 60 minutes moderate-to-vigorous. Twice-a-day outdoor blocks meet that, with daily life movement covering the rest.Developmental
Pretend play is one of the most robust predictors of later self-regulation + theory of mind (Lillard). Open-ended materials (blocks, dolls, kitchen) beat closed-ended toys here. Sorting, simple puzzles, early counting all live in these blocks.Bonding
Shared book reading is the single highest-yield daily practice for vocabulary growth (NICHD Early Child Care). Music + dancing is co-regulation in disguise.Care
Self-help practice begins: handing them the spoon, the toothbrush, the shoe — slow, predictable, narrated. Brush teeth at consistent moments to anchor the routine before the child can object.Why this schedule
- Sleep: One afternoon nap (~1–2h) plus 10–13h overnight (AAP).
- Language: Two-word combinations by 24mo; sentences by 36mo. Story time + naming routines compound here.
- Movement: Running, jumping, climbing — daily outdoor + gross-motor play is non-negotiable for regulation + sleep quality (WHO Move).
- Self-regulation: Predictable routines + warm limit-setting build executive function precursors (Blair, Diamond).
Sources
- · AAP Sleep
- · WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity (under-5s)
- · Diamond, Executive Functions
- · Blair, Self-regulation in Early Childhood
Changelog
Each time we revise this template — adding, removing, or moving a slot — we publish a new post with the change rationale. This is version 1; no revisions yet.