Those With Non-Nappers, When Do You Get 5 Min??

[DaisyMamma]

I went from 2 kids during the day to 5 in a matter of a couple of weeks. One of those 5 kids is 4 years old. She doesn't nap, so my 2.5-3 hour break I got everyday is gone gone gone. This little girl is adorable but a typical 4 year old chatter box. I need a good half hour to recoup and wondering how everyone does it?
I'm considering mandatory quiet time for a 1/2 hour to an hour where she can either lay down and relax, watch a movie or read books. This way I can at least get a few minutes to my own thoughts! And I usually do a considerable amount of cleaning during nap too...

[SilverSabre25]

yep, mandatory quiet time is what I do for my 4 yo DD who doesn't nap, and what I will do for any dck that needs to not nap. DD is in her room for 1/2 hr, then gets three short shows or one long one ( I lovethis netflix streaming), then can play quietly.

[Solandia]

For the 4yo+, I have always required a 30min rest period (they can SILENTLY read books, but must lay down and no chattering to each other or to themselves). Any chatter, and the timer starts over. After the 30min of silence, then I will turn on the TV for pbskids. HOWEVER, it is quiet time rules from 1-3pm. Rules: quiet talking/whispering, only quiet toys/books, and everyone must stay in their own space...no playing together. They can play quietly in their own space, or watch tv.

Occasionally I will have a kid that cannot keep to themselves and/or bouncing off the walls (so one kid keeps resetting the 30min quiet)...after a couple of resets, this problem maker gets to lay down on a cot with the little kids & me while the others continue on being successful at quiet time.

Do not feel sorry for my school agers when they have the day off school...they NEED this down time, it is good for their brains & bodies. It also teaches them to play by themselves/entertain themselves AND teaches being considerate to the littles who have higher needs then themselves.

[greenhouse]

My boys have completely opposite nap schedules and it drives me nuts. I do things in the am and after DS goes to sleep. I keep up with little cleaning during the day. I never eat in peace or use the bathroom alone. I've been trying to get the 18 mo old to take one normal mid day nap, but he's narcoleptic every 3 hours.

[momma2girls]

I require everyone here quiet time/nap time every day.

[LittleD]

It may not be PC but for those ones, I have them watch a movie. If they don't want to watch a movie, they can lay there quietly for the one hour rest period. They always choose a movie

I have cleared it with the parents first mind you. They are ok with it.

[saved4always]

It may not be PC but for those ones, I have them watch a movie. If they don't want to watch a movie, they can lay there quietly for the one hour rest period. They always choose a movie

I have cleared it with the parents first mind you. They are ok with it.

I used to have one 4 year old non-napper. She was actually a child who would sleep but the parent didn't want her to nap because supposedly napping was why she did not go to sleep until after 11 p.m. every night. I actually think it was more they allowed her to run the house. I would have her watch a movie on the couch with a blankie and also some books while the younger kids all napped. Half the time she would fall asleep.

[sahm2three]

yep, mandatory quiet time is what I do for my 4 yo DD who doesn't nap, and what I will do for any dck that needs to not nap. DD is in her room for 1/2 hr, then gets three short shows or one long one ( I lovethis netflix streaming), then can play quietly.

I agree. I am not the older kids playmate. Quiet time is quiet time. Give her some quiet things to do, but tell her she must be quiet.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

Our children are expected to either nap or lay quietly without talking or playing the whole nap time (there's only 1 room they can nap in, so if someone is allowed to do quiet activities on their cots, they always end up waking someone up, and the only other room opens up to the room they sleep in, without a door, so if they go in there to "play quietly" it's never quiet enough). As long as they are not laying next to anyone who is awake, they all will lay quietly until everyone else gets up. But most of the time we have all nappers. Even the 4 & 5 yr olds. When we have a schoolager, most of the time they'll actually want to go to sleep too! And the parents encourage it... believe it or not!

[mac60]

For children not in school it is not an option here. Why lay down when I can watch tv, play, etc. I agree with above poster. Quiet time is just that, sleep or don't sleep, their choice, but they stay on their spot and they are quiet. In my experience (because I have tried it and it doesn't work), when you allow 1 to have books or a quiet toy, then the next one whines are wants the same. It is easier to treat everyone the same....

[melskids]

I have children here who do not nap.

I could never make a child lay on a mat with nothing to do for an extended amount of time.

I know I couldnt lay there for two hours staring at the ceiling...I'd go out of my mind. ::

We MUST have a quiet period of time though, to let the ones get rest who need it.

To start out, I lay ALL of the children down, and they must lay quietly until the sleepers fall asleep.

Many times, they all will pass out.

If not, the non nappers are allowed to have QUIET activities, either on their mats, or at their table. They color, read, do puzzles, that sort of thing.

They KNOW they MUST play quietly, or they lay back down on their mat. I am pretty strict about this, and they know it. It's whispers and light walking feet only.

I make sure to put all the "nappers" at one end of the room, as far away as possible.

As far as my getting a "break"....It's just not that big of a deal to me. As long as they are quietly engaged, I go about my business. I clean up the lunch mess, do dishes, fold laundry, plan lessons, come here or read a book myself. Sometimes I do a special activity or play a board game with them.

I don't need them to be "asleep" to get my own break.

The school agers can either play in my sons room, when HE'S in the mood for that..., have quiet activities, go outside, or QUIETLY play some educational Wii games or computer games we have. (out in the living room)

Our quiet time is very mellow, laid back, quiet, and just what we do. It's a familiar routine, and just what works for us.

[LittleD]

I have children here who do not nap.


If not, the non nappers are allowed to have QUIET activities, either on their mats, or at their table. They color, read, do puzzles, that sort of thing.

They KNOW they MUST play quietly, or they lay back down on their mat. I am pretty strict about this, and they know it. It's whispers and light walking feet only.

We couldn't do that here, I had 2 4yr olds and 1 5 yr old, and quiet feet ALWAYS ended up stomping feet with in 1 minute. AND they didn't have whisper voices, there was 2 volumes: loud and loudest ::

[mac60]

It may be possible if you use more than one area of the home for napping, but when the nap room is the daycare room is the family room, etc. it is very hard to allow 1 or 2 freedom from laying down and being quiet.

[Hunni Bee]

We couldn't do that here, I had 2 4yr olds and 1 5 yr old, and quiet feet ALWAYS ended up stomping feet with in 1 minute. AND they didn't have whisper voices, there was 2 volumes: loud and loudest ::

Mine never understood "play quietly and leave ME alone". They could never whisper to me, it would just get louder and louder until they started waking up the others. And plus that was the only time I had to clean, do my daily paperwork, stare at the wall for 5 minutes, etc...

Thankfully, I have no non-nappers now.

[melskids]

Here's a good post on quiet time activity.

http://auntannieschildcare.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-hate-preschool-rest-time-alternative.html

I am IN NO WAY saying any of you are wrong. Just sharing a different perspective.