For Those Who Work Alone- How To You Get A Break During The Day With Non-Nappers?

[Soccermom]

I work alone and at the moment I have 2 nappers and 3 non nappers. I do have them do a little quiet time after lunch but if I am not in the room with them they get rowdy no matter how many times I go in there and discipline them. I feel like I don't get a break....ever.

I eat lunch standing at the counter while catering to the little ones and then spend naptime disciplining the olders ones in order to get them to be quiet for at least 30 minutes.

Then my own SA kids arrive and the chaos continues....

There are days when I feel so suffocated by children that I can hardly breathe. I love kids and I love what I do but I need to find a way to get a breather during the day.

What do you all do?

[blandino]

I work alone and at the moment I have 2 nappers and 3 non nappers. I do have them do a little quiet time after lunch but if I am not in the room with them they get rowdy no matter how many times I go in there and discipline them. I feel like I don't get a break....ever.

I eat lunch standing at the counter while catering to the little ones and then spend naptime disciplining the olders ones in order to get them to be quiet for at least 30 minutes.

Then my own SA kids arrive and the chaos continues....

There are days when I feel so suffocated by children that I can hardly breathe. I love kids and I love what I do but I need to find a way to get a breather during the day.

What do you all do?

That is the very reason I don't do non-nappers. All my kids, even those who only nap for part of our nap-time, lay down on their mats for the entirety of nap time.

When we did have bigger kids, they had mats that were in a seperate area and got to watch a movie during nap time. But they had to stay on ther mats and quiet.

Personally, I would make a quiet time non-negotiable. It will make a world of difference to you.

[Play Care]

I'll be honest, quiet time is non negotiable in my home because of this very reason. Everyone under school aged lays down for at least thirty minutes. I don't even entertain then "my child doesn't need naps" speech. My own kids dropped naps around 2 1/2 and they were still expected to spend some time quietly in their rooms.

[Maria2013]

How old are your non nappers? If they are too young to understand "quiet time" I would make them nap with the rest of the kids
and if they are old enough to understand "quiet time" then I would give 1 reminder and simply let them know the rule:
You're either quiet so the rest of the kids can nap, or you are napping too

babies nap at their own schedule so when I have a young baby I just don't get a break

:hug:

[Maria2013]

I'll be honest, quiet time is non negotiable in my home because of this very reason. Everyone under school aged lays down for at least thirty minutes. I don't even entertain then "my child doesn't need naps" speech. My own kids dropped naps around 2 1/2 and they were still expected to spend some time quietly in their rooms.

[Soccermom]

How old are your non nappers? If they are too young to understand "quiet time" I would make them nap with the rest of the kids
and if they are old enough to understand "quiet time" then I would give 1 reminder and simply let them know the rule:
You're either quiet so the rest of the kids can nap, or you are napping too

babies nap at their own schedule so when I have a young baby I just don't get a break

:hug:

They are old enough to understand quiet time as they are all 4 Y/O. It is frustrating because the second I leave the room they act up. If I put the TV on for a treat they are quiet BUT I have a DCF who does not own a TV and is completely against the idea. I am not a huge TV fan for my own kids either so I agreed to not allow TV unless it was movie day....dumb mistake.

[Blackcat31]

They are old enough to understand quiet time as they are all 4 Y/O. It is frustrating because the second I leave the room they act up. If I put the TV on for a treat they are quiet BUT I have a DCF who does not own a TV and is completely against the idea. I am not a huge TV fan for my own kids either so I agreed to not allow TV unless it was movie day....dumb mistake.

Maybe you should have a system... if they participate in quiet time today, they can do so again tomorrow...if not, then they get a nap the next day.

Or straight to nap time today if they aren't being quiet.

Be firm! Good luck!

Like Blandino...that is the very reason I don't take non-nappers/resters.

[Maria2013]

all my 4yrs old do take a nap

[Maria2013]

Or straight to nap time today if they aren't being quiet.

[LaLa1923]

all my 4yrs old do take a nap

exactly this!!

[littlemissmuffet]

I do not keep kids who do not nap. We already work long, hard days... we deserve a break in there somewhere.

[coolconfidentme]

I'll be honest, quiet time is non negotiable in my home because of this very reason. Everyone under school aged lays down for at least thirty minutes. I don't even entertain then "my child doesn't need naps" speech.

SAME HERE!!!I tell the parent that rest time is my only break of the day & I do not provider care for non-nappers. Period!

[Familycare71]

They are old enough to understand quiet time as they are all 4 Y/O. It is frustrating because the second I leave the room they act up. If I put the TV on for a treat they are quiet BUT I have a DCF who does not own a TV and is completely against the idea. I am not a huge TV fan for my own kids either so I agreed to not allow TV unless it was movie day....dumb mistake.

You can ALWAYS change the rules-
I don't do a lot of tv but I also need the break if I have non nappers. If you don't take care of you who will take care of them??
Non nappers who are not school age have books. I am also going to start Audio books. Sometimes they lay in the living room instead of the nap room if I need to keep a handle on them. Most fall asleep at some point(in dont have any now yay! happyface
When SA is here they watch a movie and read so it gives me two hours. Non- negotiable. And like PP said- if you don't lay down quiet you nap!

[crazydaycarelady]

I let my non-nappers watch TV. I stress that it is quiet time and if they are not quiet they'll get to go into another room and lay down themselves.

[My3cents]

I do not keep kids who do not nap. We already work long, hard days... we deserve a break in there somewhere.

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