The Time Between Lunch And Nap...

[WImom]

What's your schedule?

Right now as they leave the table from lunch, they pick out 4 books, get their lovey and lay on their mats quietly reading while everyone takes turns going potty. Then they put books away and I read a story. Then nap.

My system is failed somewhere because I get alot of talking and fooling around by a few kids but lately it's most of them. Usually I will send that one or two back to the table until they can be quiet but today it was everyone but one.

I ended up taking story time away and started nap except for the one child. Took her out of the room and read a story (Still within sight/sound) of the others. Boy, the room got quiet then.....

What should I change to make this transisition run smoother? Let them talk? I really feel this time should be transisitioning to sleep so not sure how that would work letting them talk.

[small_steps]

My kiddos have lunch and as soon as each one gets finished I have them put up their dishes and go potty and wash hands. Then they get on their mats. I don't do a story in between. It works great for me. Mine know the routine. It's time to be quiet when we get on our mats and they don't talk to each other (occasionally of course they do but I just have to say their names and they will hush up). Not sure I have any suggestions for you but this is what i do and naps are almost always smooth. All 10 Kids are usually asleep in 15 minutes.

[Solandia]

I keep transitions short & sweet. As one child gets done with lunch, it is straight to potty/wash hands/brush teeth and to their sleeping place. I have a open concept setup, so I can see pretty much everyone at all times. So, the kids naturally have a staggered "to bed" times, by a few minutes, anyway.

We do books and talking all day long, quiet time is when everyone has to keep their thoughts in their heads and not out of the mouths. Me included.

[WImom]

Yeah, I tried the stay at the table until it was your turn to go potty but then the playing at the table started.

I think it's just this group. I did work in the past so I'm thinking I need to do something different with this group. Maybe no books but have a story on tape on?

[spud912]

My house is very open and fairly small, so my schedule works well where I can still supervise all the children while multi-tasking. As they finish lunch, they ask to be excused and bring me their plates/silverware/cups. I wash their hands and send them off to free play. As everyone is finishing their food, I am washing lunch dishes and wiping off counters. By the time the last child is down, I usually just have to wipe the table and sweep the floors. Then I do potty breaks (2 at a time, I diaper one of the little ones while an older child goes potty...usually same gender, then wash hands). I help the youngest brush his teeth after I diaper him. Then I take the youngest to his room with the other little one and read them a short story. I put him in his crib, walk the other little one and call all of the others to the bathroom to brush their teeth. After that, I read the other little one her short book and put her to sleep (while the bigger kids are pulling out their cots and setting up for nap time). Then I read all of the big kids their story and send them off to their beds. I tuck in and kiss everyone and nap time starts. Lunch is served at 11:30/11:45ish and is usually done between 12 and 12:15. The big kids are down for nap at around 1 everyday. It works great because everything is cleaned up after lunch, everyone is changed/pottied, everyone has their teeth brushed, and everyone has been read a story (from a book designed for their age group).

[daycare]

I do it two ways.

1. I excuse each child from the table, you go to the bathroom, get your mat and then I help you set up for sleep.

2. We all sit at the table until everyone is done, we go to the bathroom as a group and set up mats as a group.
There is no nap time stories any more, as all they do is go crazy and fool around. I read enough books throughout the day that they are not missing out on anything.

[Hunni Bee]

I try to keep this period of time as short as humanly possible. I do hate making them go to bed so soon after they eat, but this is where 90% of my misbehavior happens.

I do lunch, have them do their little chores, potty and brush teeth, they get on their mats and I read a story. Then nighty-night.

I try to have this all done by 12:45. This group I have now needs a lot of sleep, so I try to get them down as early as possible so they won't sleep allll afternoon.