Recap of 18 Months Old in our Montessori Home
We are closing in on a year and a half with twins and things continue to solidify and change daily. There is more communication from the twins happening. They explore so much but also have a greater capacity for independent play. They are absorbing and seeing order in our home which helps them know where to find things and we are helping them learn to put them back in their place when we are done using them. In this post, I want to share more about what has happened in our home and the developmental changes at 18 months old.
Daily Rhythms
Every day is different with our 18 month old toddlers, but we definately have settled into more of a daily rhythm. This is very general timing, as wake-ups are still variable from day to day.
Morning
- 5:00 am– I wake up for quiet prayer time and to get some work done for the blog.
- 5:30 – 6:30 am – The boys wake up. I try not to get them until 6 am if possible. They can usually find something to play with in their room until then.
- 6:00 – 7:00 am – Eat breakfast and quick clean up.
- 7:00 – 7:30 am- I get a workout in and the boys have been playing around me. This has been a new habit and has been so good for me. I sometimes give them playdough or pull out different activities if they need something more engaging. They have started to know this is just part of the morning routine, which I have loved!
- 7:30- 8:00 am- Go on a walk. If the weather is good, I love to take the boys on a quick walk in the morning before it gets too hot. They enjoy walks and we have a new park within walking distance from our house that we will visit if we have a slow day and nowhere to be.
- 8:00-9:00 am– Snack, get dressed, play, or pack up to leave the house if we are leaving to go somewhere. Somedays we will do playdates with friends, go visit family, or go check on the garden about 2 times a week these days.
- 9:00 – 11:00 am – If we are home, we usually go about our day doing things around the house. Sometimes we spend time in the kitchen. At other times we do laundry, play, or organize something upstairs. It all is very organic and I accomplish what I can given the circumstances and the needs on that day.
- 11:00 – 11:30 am – Snack or light lunch before nap time.
Afternoon
- 11:30 – 2:00 pm – Nap time. The boys are taking one nap these days. Most days it is over an hour and a half, and some days it is closer to 3 hours. It just depends and is a little different every day. They are still napping and sleeping on their floor bed.
- 2:00- 2:30 pm- Feed the boys a late lunch. I usually start prepping dinner while they eat.
- 2:30 – 4:30 pm – Playtime outside if it is nice. This summer we have been doing more water play in the afternoon because it tends to be warmer.
- 5:30 6:15 pm– Supper.
- 6:15 – 6:45 pm – Playtime, clean up dinner, and family time.
- 6:45 pm – Get the boys ready for bed.
- 7:00 – 7:30 pm – Bedtime. In the summer, it seems bedtime gets pushed a little later.
Communication
So much communication has been happening from the boys while they have been 18 months old. They are consistently saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to communicate their preferences. Even though the development of these preferences can be challenging at times, it is also so helpful. We can ask if they want to eat more of something and they can tell us. I find myself asking them numerous questions throughout the day to better understand their needs. I’m pleasantly surprised by how responsive and honest they are when communicating their needs and wants.
Sleep
This month we adjusted naps. Previously, I was putting them down later in the afternoon. Often after 12:30 pm; it would take them a very long time to fall asleep. Then they were sleeping till 4 pm or later. Then I would have to wake them up from their nap so they would be ready to sleep at night. This made bedtime difficult too. We decided to try moving naps earlier and this has been a game-changer! Somedays by 11 am they seem ready for a nap. This change has been the perfect time for this season in life.
Teeth
Their 18 month molars have been coming in this month which has created some more challenges. They seem to be more picky when it comes to food, and more ornery when they are close to each other. The tooth pain has been making them more aggressive with one another and they want to bite one another more. Sleep has also been affected to a certain extent as well. There have been earlier morning wake-ups and more difficulty falling asleep in moments. We have been using the teeth tamer drops from Earthley.
Emotions
It all seems developmentally appropriate but there have been more tantrums and qualms between each other. A few things we do to help in these moments are setting clear boundaries for safety when they are having difficulty with one another. I will pick up or move one away from the other to create physical distance between them. Then we show a lot of empathy when they have big emotions about something they can’t do. I will then try to redirect them to something else. There are lots of hugs and comfort to meet those big emotional needs.
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What’s on the Shelves
Here are a few favorite toys and activities at 18 months old:
- Child-size broom
- Child-size mop
- Magna tiles
- Threading on a horizontal dowel
- Ball drop
- Books
- Balls
- Open and close containers
- Pikler triangle
- Toddler kitchen tower (this is used multiple times every day!)
Things I’m Thinking About for the Future
I’m always thinking about so many things, but I’ve been thinking about how to start potty training. This is something I am seeing our boys have an interest in. I know that there are sensitive periods for toilet learning, typically right around 18 months old. I want to attempt to do this within that sensitive period because I know it is possible! I’ll share more on this in the future, but for now, I was given the book recommendation, “Oh, Crap! Potty Training!” book.
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