Need Sample Schedule for My Two Girls - Ages 14 Mths and 31 Mths

Hi J.-

Start by filling in the things that are already happening "on schedule" in your house (nap times, meal times, bedtime, etc). Then I think you should think of some special activities to do with your oldest daughter during your youngest daughter's first nap - reading, art, play games --things that are hard for you to do with your oldest when your youngest is awake. Choose a time during the day (usually early morning is best to beat the heat) to get outside - go for a walk, go to a park, play in the yard. Then identify things that you can go do in the afternoon either before or after their naps--children's museum, library, run errands, etc.

By the way, I understand that the thought of managing them both at the pool can be daunting. I was scared to death when we first moved here and I had to manage my then 3 1/2 year old and 1 year old but with the help of floaties or a life jacket on the 3 year old and one of those baby inner tube type things for the baby to sit in I did ok and it was a lot of fun. Now I take my 7, 5 and 18 month old without thinking twice and my oldest 2 are not great swimmers. But that is something that you have to feel comfortable with yourself so I understand.

Good luck,
K.

Hi J.
I have a 3yr old and an 8 mo old. We wake up at 6:30ish. Breakfast and cartoons. After breakfast, I shower, and we head out/or stay in for an activity around 9am. We ususally go bowling(summerpass) for the older, swimming in our blow up pool in the backyard, Chick fil a early for playtime, library for story time. Then we are back home for the little one's nap by 11. The older on eats lunch and has a quiet time with a movie or activity. After 2pm when the baby wakes, we do a small activity til her afternoon nap, like coloring, or a walk, or floor games. And then when the baby goes down for her afternoon nap, I make dinner with the 3 yr old, and Daddy gets home for dinner with the whole family, then it's bathtime, and bedtime for the baby, and the older one comes down for an hour or so with Daddy and I, then it's to bed. As always schedules are flexible, and have to be or else a mom would go insane, but I do believe it provides kids with a sense of security and stability. Mine are very even tempered and great kids b/c they always know what is going to happen next.

Good luck!

A really good source for sample schedules is Teri Maxwell's Managers of Their Homes. We don't structure our home quite so much but it is food for thought. It's always nice to have activities to do inside when its soo hot in the afternoon...playdough, scribbling on paper, dress up corners, dancing to music on tapes and throwing scarfs around, puzzles, folding paper, cutting paper, draw with chalk and blow bubbles (in the morning), buckets of water and paint brushes outside, float boats in a baby bathtub, play house with baby dolls and buggies, watercolor, match socks, mop floors, bake cookies, read books. Think pre school centers. They can each be involved at different levels :) Have fun!

My two girls are just about the same age as yours (12 & 30 mo). When we moved about a month ago and pretty much had to start over as far as schedules go. So it's taken about a month to go from no schedule to where my Toddler kinda knows what's-going-to-happen-next. Everyone else has given really great suggestions (many of which we use). But here's a rough sample what's working for us right now. Although, as you know, it'll probably change as baby grows up so we'll keep flexible.

* 6:30-7 wakeup & breakfast (baby is first to get up)
* Get ready/do activities or errands together/clean a little
* ~9 Baby down for nap - Toddler sits on potty & reads
* Toddler one on one time with mommy: we read or draw or play together.
* 10 Snack then more activities or a short 20 min tv program
* ~11 Baby gets up
* 11:30 we all eat lunch together
* 12 Toddler takes nap (we go potty, read a book in bed, then I leave sometimes she is up for a while before she falls asleep.)
* Baby one on one time with mom: usually need to take a bath after lunch, read or sing songs. I'm starting to try to get her to play by herself for about 20 minutes during this time.
* ~1:30-2ish Baby takes 2nd nap
* 3ish Toddler wakes up. Potty. Sometimes we do a little snack. More activities or play time on her own.
* 3:30-4ish Baby wakes up. We might do errands or more playtime with just the girls together while I think about/make dinner.
* 5:30 We all eat dinner / Daddy comes home
* family time or just playtime with daddy
* 7pm get ready for bed. Baby goes down.
* by 7:30ish Toddler goes potty, last "drink of water", book and bed.

Of course this is what we "aim" for an usually it's not this pretty. But it helps me move along my day and plan for times to go out when one or the other isn't cranky/hungry/about to pee her pants. P.S. having roughly planned times to just sit on the potty has really helped with using it. Oh, and it helps to make transition conversations "Now it's ___-time and then it'll be ___-time". A schedule of what to expect has really helped with the toddler's super-tantrums which popped up after the move. Again this is what works for us, hope it helps.

*sorry so long.
-Krys

J.,
You must be feeling stressed and want to solve that problem to have posed the question. Do you feel you want more stimulating activities for the girls? or do you feel you want to get more done during the day? If it is for the girls, you already have some great advice.
If it is for you, you really are sort of grounded as long as the baby is taking two naps. You almost don't have enough time to get any errands done and it is time to go home and put her down.
Kids love to do what mom does so you could do all of the household chores while grounded during nap time and have the 3 yr old help, wheather starting dinner or folding laundry. It is an opportunity to talk about rhymes, she learns a bit of chemistry in the kitchen and colors- same and different- matching socks. Trips to the grocery store can be fun if you make it a treasure hunt. Each aisle has something she needs to find- things that are red, bananas, food that Dad likes, food that the baby likes etc. etc.
Playdates with another mom coming over with her toddler during nap time will also relieve the boredom of being stuck in the house. If you don't know any moms of kids the same age, try going to your library's story time or your church's child care class. Until the younger one is down to one nap, your options for outings are a bit limited but this time is going to pass so quickly. You will only know that later though.
As far as entertaining the little one, having an almost 3 yr old on hand is guaranteed entertainment. Put her in her highchair and have her play with food color and cool whip while the older one paints. Throwing foam balls around, building with foam blocks, learning to sit on a kiddie chair can occupy a whole morning. you are indeed a lucky woman. I love this age at least until they know what they want and can't tell you, then the child's frustration is very frustrating for all.
Enjoy them they will be off to college in no time.
K.

One idea would be to visit several daycares/preschools to see what they do during the day. It's ok to take a tour and see their schedules without committing to attendance. It will give you a take. I'm a preschool educator so I will offer you my ideas. Morning: Breakfast, then get ready for day (dressing, washing up), Outside play time with sand/water/ walks, slides, climbing, come inside for music (play your kid or adult CDs and dance, play drums with pots, cans, tap spoons, shaker cans (made out of small plastic bottles with beans or rice in them and cover with duct tape), jingle bells sewn to elastic wrist bangles or anything else musical you have. Snack and nap time and story time - then older child can help you around the house (laundry folding, bed making, dusting, dishes).
Before lunch have a concept play time with blocks (colors, sorting, counting) or other such items or play pretend with dolls, stuffed animals, roll balls. Before lunch watch a kid video for 30 mins. Lunch - story time and nap.
M. time! do an art or tactile/sensory project - play doh, water color, crayons, whatever. Snack time. Help M. time - vacuuming (they use push toys) etc.. Outdoor time (wading pool) and quiet time with toys or kid show before dinner preparation. Scheduling activities and exposing your kids to enrichment projects will ready them for the school experience and help make your day flow easier. Love every moment of it it will be gone before you know it!

My kids are 2 (24 months) and almost 7 months. We wake up at 8 my son plays in his crib a few minutes while I get dressed and change and dress the baby. Then we go get the oldest and we play up there for about 30-40 minutes. Sometimes I have to work in the morning so we just rush out the door after breakfast. Most days though we have breakfast around 9ish. The baby plays in her excausaucer while I finish getting ready, n get a few things done. She goes down for a nap at 10 for about 30 minutes. My son watches oswald from 10-11, while he does this I pack what we need for our outing. This time of year we usually go to the pool(since kds are out of school places are too crowded and I can't handle my two by myself), I put a float suit and floaties on my son and I have the baby on my hip. I went twice with my husband for practice but now I don't even think twice about it and the kids love it. Other places I take them throughout the year is children's museum, different parks, library, pump it up, chuckecheese, fast food places with play areas, or we play in our yard, go for a walk, play with the dogs. We usually eat chickfila or something I have packed then we head home. They nap from 3-5. We play some more, dinner, and bath. Baby goes down at 7:30-8 and the toddler at 8:30-9. This is my toddlers wind down time, he sits and watches his show (usually with milk and a snack) and I get a few chores done. Then we go upstairs for story and bed. On days that I have to do errands we usually just stop by the park or since its too hot now a fast food place with a play area for 30 minutes to an hour. I am pretty flexible with my schedule, but most days it works out this way.