A full summary of life for this 27 month old. Find out what daily life was like and find a 27 month old sample schedule to follow.
This is a summary of McKenna from 26-27 months old–so just over two years old.
What a fun month! Following the rough 26th month, I am so glad to say month 27 was very fun.
Post Contents
EATING
McKenna still eats a lot and still eats pretty much anything and everything. She seems to have decided she doesn’t love mustard and will sometimes not eat much of something if it has mustard on it.
She has a funny quirk with eating, though. She will not eat unless someone else is sitting and eating with her. Even for breakfast–she waits until I am sitting with her and I start eating before she starts. How polite of her! Ha! I don’t think she is practicing her manners. I have no idea why, but it is what she does.
She is really good for waiting for the prayer most of the time before she starts to eat. We used to have to leave her food away from her until the prayer was said, but she will usually wait now–though not always.
PLAYING
Playtime is great. She is having a great time with her siblings. She loves to play and play hard, which leads me to…
LIFE OF PARTY
This is McKenna. The life of the party. If I were to tell you about McKenna, I would have to tell you about how much fun she is. McKenna always has fun, no matter where she is or what she is doing. It is a great quality. She is always happy and always entertaining herself. Some children in the same situation would whine, some would cry, some would sit bored…
McKenna will be finding a way to have fun–and not in a mischievous way (most of the time). She is able to sit and fully entertain herself with nothing but herself. Everyone loves McKenna because she brings with her a good time. Not just content, not just happy–she is full of joy. At church, you can hear several children in the 5 and younger crowd yelling out, “Look! There’s Kenna! Hi Kenna!” or “Where’s McKenna? I can’t see her?!”
SLEEP
Sleep is all normal. She still takes a long time to fall asleep some nights, and she sometimes plays 1.5 hours into her nap. Sometimes I go in and tell her to go to sleep, and she does.
The next big thing in her life with sleep will be the big girl bed. Both of my older two were in a big kid bed long before this point in life, but I don’t have a baby in need of the crib so I am fine waiting. I do feel like it is getting to be time, though. I feel like by the end of August, we will be moved over or will do so in September.
I think I want to move over to a twin bed even though we already own a toddler bed. I think since twin beds are higher up than toddler beds, the child will be more likely to stay in bed. So I will have to buy a bed first.
>>>Read: Transitioning from a Crib to a Bed
MIMIC
Anyone with a toddler with older siblings can probably related to the total mimic that she is of her siblings. She follows them around everywhere trying to do exactly what they do in every way. It is so cute to watch. It also reaffirms to me how much value there is in working to train the older siblings correctly because if the oldest has undesirable habits, every subsequent child will copy that.
SUMMER EVENTS
We are having a very fun and very busy summer. I am trying to soak up what I am viewing as the last summer of innocence–Brayden starts full day school this fall. Next summer, he will be 7 and moving on to the next phase of life–a more mature phase.
So we are taking advantage of every moment. Anyway, she does great with disruptions. She can stay up late, go down for a nap late, etc. and stay her happy self. I am, however, very respectful of her sleep. I don’t often interrupt it. I let her get it in–it isn’t much time. It is easy to do.
LANGUAGE
McKenna is talking so well. So very well. She communicates well and talks well. Several months ago, she was not above average in any way in talking. She was pretty much on average, but she has really exploded.
And this girl is obsessed with books. Totally in love with books.
SMARTY-PANTS
McKenna is also very smart. She is super ahead on things like colors–she knows all of the basics and all of the harder shades. She also knows all of her shapes–even things like diamonds that usually trip even 4 year olds up.
She is also “street smart” and good at figuring things out on her own. She is a great problem solver. I attribute a lot of that ability to her being the third child in our house. I can’t always help her immediately, so she usually just figures it out. Add her independent two year old spirit in there and even if I offer to help she says, “No, I do it.” And she does.
DISCIPLINE
Her discipline is so great. She has been so good. She says things like “Yes Mommy, I coming” and “okay Mommy” and “I sorry.” These are not things I have ever had to sit her down and teacher her–they are again product of her paying close attention to her siblings and how things work. A great benefit of working hard with the older children!
I think our predictable daily schedule has been very beneficial with this. Even with our disruptions, our “normal” days are so incredibly consistent that she knows what to expect. And when we have disruptions, I make sure the rest of the day is consistent.
>>>Read: How to Get Your Child to Obey with a Simple “Yes Mommy”
OUR SCHEDULE
Here is our summer schedule for cool weather. So far, summer has been cool weather for us.
8:00–Wake up and eat breakfast
8:30–Music time/learning time review
9:00–Get ready
9:30–Chores
10:00–Walk or bike ride
10:30–Independent Play
11:30–Learning Activity
12:00–Lunch
12:30–Outside play
1:30–Nap
4:00 or 4:30–Get up–or free play. Sometimes TV time, but rare.
5:30–Dinner
6:00–Family Activities
7:30–Get ready for bed
8:00–Bedtime
Good Books and Websites
- On Becoming Toddlerwise
- Wholesome Toddlerfood.com
- The Toddler’s Busy Book
- What To Expect The Toddler Years (this is okay–I don’t love it)
- Super Baby Food
- So Easy Toddler Food cookbook
- The Wonder Weeks.
- Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
- The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems: Sleeping, Feeding, and Behavior–Beyond the Basics from Infancy Through Toddlerhood
Hey valerie! I have an awesome book to suggest! Its called Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney. The book is like a Godsend. It is perfect for encouragement for weary mothers and wives. Iv e started reading it, and it has definitely helped me. Especially since im a new stay at home mom it has helped me keep my head straight and to continuously give glory to God in all situations. ALso, it has helped me remain grateful for all the little things in my life right now. Thank you so much for using the gifts God has given you. This blog is a tremendous blessing! Im always telling people about your blog, and how much it helps.
Hi,This is random, but I was thinking today that y'all need an app for the iphone/ipod/etc. I would love to be able to access this information at the click of a button vs having to look online. And yes, I'd pay $.99 for it too. Just a thought.Thanks for the blog – it helps me keep my sanity to know other moms have been through this/done it. :)Katie
Do you always wake her up at 8:00? My daughter sometimes doesn't get to bed at 8 when she should if we our out and about or church. Do you let her sleep in when you put her down late? Also do you have a schedule from her 24 months. My daughter will be 24 months on the 15th. I would love to see a sample. How do you adjust your schedule if you do let her sleep in?
This is random also (seems like the random comment post) but I saw this opportunity and thought of you. Don't know if you are interested but I figured I'd put it out there: http://gardnervillage.myworldcms.com/i/2594BloggingInformationandApplication.pdf?i=i&[email protected]&camp=193&L=Newsletter
What sort of chores do you have her do at 2 years old?(Curious, from a mom with a 20 month old)
I am also wondering what kind of chores she is doing and what type of learning activities is she doing at this age?
I have a 21 month old girl and was just wondering if you have begun potty training McKenna or when you will? I will go back and read some of your potty training posts. I am curious of your opinion – we are in the midst of moving from overseas back to the States – currently staying with family for a couple months, then moving to an apartment and finally a house whenever we're ready to buy one. Thus, a lot of changes! However, DD is overall very obedient to our directions and very aware. If we weren't moving I would have begun preparing for potty training already, based on signals I see from her. Would you recommend going ahead or waiting? I also don't want to wait too long as I am planning to get pregnant soon, Lord-willing, and I've heard not to try potty training when first pregnant and of course when a baby arrives. I'd love to get your opinion!One more question – like I said my daughter is usually quite obedient but she has recently started testing her use of the word "No." Tonight she said NO very strongly to me several times when I instructed her to do something. My husband and I do believe in spanking and I spanked her and talked to her about why I had to, and she stopped then. But she had said No to me several times. What do you recommend to nip this habit in the bud?
Can you do a post on teaching a toddler delayed gratification as talked about in Toddlerwise in p. 161 (2003 edition; under the Temper Tantrums heading in the Toddler Topic Pool)? I would love to see some ideas on that. Thanks!
Thank you The Playpen! I always love to hear about good books.
Katie, we are working on that…but it would be way cooler than just the website.
Julie, I often let her sleep in. I leave enough room in our schedule for wiggle room, so if she sleeps in, we just do other things in the morning faster to get caught up. By lunch we are always back on track.If you look at the other toddler summary posts, you will see the 24 month summary with our schedule then.
Aubrey thanks for that! I totally missed the deadline! That would have been fun.
Alyssa, I basically just have her help me with whatever I am doing. She can help pick things up and put them away, she can get things for me, she can dust, she can "fold," … almost anything I do, I can find something she can do safely.
Leigh, I think it doesn't hurt to try. If it doesn't go well, you can always stop. I haven't started yet, but I can see she is showing lots of signs. We are really just too busy to focus on that right now. I am currently planning on it the beginning of September.
Leigh,As for the "no," look through the discipline posts for full info on that. I pretty much give the look (you know, 'the look'), and say "you do not have the freedom to tell mommy no" and then repeat the instruction. She will test often. Just stay consistent and don't ever let her no get her to not have to do it.
D&H, I will put it on my list!
I love to hear about how she is learning "Yes, Mommy," and, "I sorry," and things like that by observing the rest of the family. How wonderful! I have happily noticed that "Yes, Mommy," is coming easier for my second child just because he hears his older sibling say it – but I could be much better about consistency. 🙂 You always give me great reminders for methods and consistency.
Thanks! Just checked back and got your answer. I just wanted to say also that I learned Yes Mommy from your blog and it is really great! We have been having her say that to us after an instruction, and it is amazing how much easier she will obey when she has to say it herself. It is also helping to combat the No's 🙂 I will keep in mind what you said about telling her she doesn't have the freedom to tell me No. I like that.About potty training, just the past week she has been waking up dry from naps and sometimes night. So I think we are moving into the potty zone! Looking forward to hearing how you do it with McKenna, that will be really helpful.
Kristy, I think a huge part is the older siblings. It helps so much.
Leigh, how exciting! It sounds like she is ready.