Nap Time For a 4 year Old

[Former Teacher]

As you all know I work full time as a nanny. My DH works nights so I am extremely bored on the weekends. I decided to start a babysitting job on the side. I babysat for this one family ONE TIME. I am still debating whether or not I will do it again.

Mom is a nurse on the weekends, dad is a doctor. They needed me because the dad had to go out of town one weekend. It was for 2 kids: 2.5 y.o girl and a 5 week baby boy. At the interview, mom had said that the 2.5 year old does not nap. Umm ok. She said she is up from 8:00 a.m. until at least 9:00 p.m. and she goes strong the entire time. I was like ok sure. She explained to me it would be a long day for me because of the hours and the fact that she will not nap. I told her that was fine, I have dealt with children with no naps before.

I was there from 6:30 a.m.-7:45 p.m. The girl woke up at 8:05 a.m. and she did not nap. She was great all morning. I turned on tv for her and she did relax but would not sleep. Baby was perfect

Anyway by 5:30ish, the girl was sassy, crabby, and just a plain brat. I explained to mom that I believe it was because no nap blah blah. Her excuse? "no, I am just surprised she had a great morning, she is usually like that all day for me"....um ok

Like I said I dont know if I want to watch them again. The money was fantastic..it paid for at least 2 weeks of groceries :: but I don't know if the stress is worth it.

[WImom]

I make them all lay down for 30 minutes and then after 30 minutes they have to stay on their mat and look at books for another 30 minutes and if they are quiet they can get up after that and come in the other room with me and do quiet activities.

Our state requires all children under age 5 to lay down and rest. They also have rest time on mats in Kindergarten at our elem. schools.

[Unregistered]

Miss Judy

For teachers and parents looking for something to help children rest quietly after they have out grown naps, check out these story CD's. Created by a day care teacher for her students who were required to rest at day care center, but no longer slept. Over an hour of stories on each CD. Parents use them at home for day time rest, or for bed time. go to web site NaptimeNanny.com for reviews and info. (Recommended by Early Childhood News)

[Unregistered]

Nap policy

I am required by my state to have a rest period for all kids under the age of 6. I don't force them to sleep, but I do require that they lay quietly for a while and for the older kids, I lay books, paper and markers by their cots so that when they are done resting, they have quiet activities to do. So far, none of them have used their quiet activity time because they're too busy sleeping!

[newtodaycare22]

For teachers and parents looking for something to help children rest quietly after they have out grown naps, check out these story CD's. Created by a day care teacher for her students who were required to rest at day care center, but no longer slept. Over an hour of stories on each CD. Parents use them at home for day time rest, or for bed time. go to web site NaptimeNanny.com for reviews and info. (Recommended by Early Childhood News)

Thanks so much for that! The parents were just telling me yesterday that they are trying stories on tape but the stories were all one speaker and monotone. I also suggested recording themselves reading, so she can her her own parents read her a story at nap.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I think nap is really important for children of all ages, whether or not they actually allow themselves to go to sleep. We had the school agers today along with the normal kids and everyone went to sleep just like usual, except the schoolagers. A 7 yr old did everything he possibly could do to stay awake. His favorite was making noise right beside one of the little ones napping. If I'd remind him he had to be quieter, he'd get mad and just get louder. I made him stay on his cot because he will not stay quiet if he's not (the others lay on their cots with books or other quiet activities with no problem). But the 7 yr old would wait til I turned my back so I could do some lunch cleanup, then he'd tap on a younger one and whisper, "wake up". So I had to move him so he wasn't beside anyone and also so I could keep an eye on him. By the time everyone woke up, everyone was in a great mood, except the 7 yr old who had not napped. Awful attitude, trying to start arguments with the others, pestering the younger ones, you name it. So although he "doesn't nap", he sure did need one! (by the time it was over I needed one after dealing with that the whole time! My mood wasn't the best either...!)So hopefully your new 4 yr old isn't the "won't nap, but needs a nap" type!