Before Naptime
After a good night’s sleep, my 2-year-old son is ready to hit the park, in his diaper, at the crack of dawn. Without fail, he’s the one who wakes us up, waddling into our bedroom, tugging on the covers to get us going. It’s like his own little morning ritual—7:30 a.m. sharp, his little face with his stinky breath is calling out for ‘eggintoas’. That’s my cue to rise.
There’s something so easy about toddlers in the morning, especially my little guy. After resting all night, his energy levels are fully recharged, and he’s at his most focused and attentive. It’s during these early hours that he’s sharp, eager, and ready to learn. Whether it’s practicing the alphabet, tracing circles, or playing with his Little Thinkers toys, this is prime time for him to soak in everything like a sponge.
Mornings have become our secret weapon. This is when we tackle anything that requires concentration, knowing he’ll be curious, engaged, and responsive.
Little Thinkers toys fit right into our morning routine—sparking his imagination and sharpening his developing mind in a fun, hands-on way. It’s the perfect time to watch him light up with new discoveries and accomplishments.
By the time 11:30 a.m. rolls around, it’s naptime. We’ve worked out a pretty solid routine. In the beginning, he’d fight it, as most toddlers do. But after two days of resisting the midday slumber, he finally got with the program. Some moms might think naps aren’t necessary as toddlers grow, but I’ve found that everybody—no matter their age—needs a little recharge for the next half of the day.
The trick to getting him ready for his nap? I wear him out mentally! We dive into a morning full of learning—going over letters, numbers, shapes—really working that little brain of his. And, sure enough, by the time we’ve finished all that, he’s more than ready for his midday reset.
It’s a simple formula: the more we exercise his thinking and focus, the sleepier he gets by the afternoon. A tired toddler is a napping toddler, and let me tell you, that hour of quiet — is a solid hour for some me time.
