Terming Non Napper

[Chickadee-Tree]

This is why I always say if you can't nap, its no longer a good fit.

Before I required everyone to nap, I was sooo burnt out with out a break. Add to that trying to keep one kid from waking everyone else up, and its really, really stressful.

I agree that it is also unfair to the child, 2 hours really is an eternity to be quiet and still!

I see only two options, term due to no longer being a good fit or give up your break to keep her quiet with an activity.

I take a break while my older/non nappers have free quiet play and/or tv time. I grab a coffee, read stuff online, eat lunch. I usually only have to throw out a couple reminders occasionally, so it doesn't get too messy or loud, etc.
If you have non-napping kids who need constant interaction or intervention, then absolutely I'd say it's not working, term them ASAP!

[Chickadee-Tree]

Can I ask, how long you've been open/in businesss?
Do you have kids of your own?

I've worked in childcare for over 10 years now (ECE for 8), but mostly in a center. Home daycare for just over a year now.
I can hear you all out there, "ohhh, yup. You'll be changing your tune soon enough.."
And I'm sure I will change things over time, and not put up with some things I do now, as a new provider.

But I am really stubborn and set in my idealistic ways... I always look at things from the developmental perspective, and it's a really hard thing to balance as a home daycare provider--what works in the real world vs. what's developmentally realistic for a child.
Like when you need 4 or 5 young children to all sleep together in one room, and there's only one adult!

Just to clarify-- I don't coddle each kid every day or anything, ... I just don't object to rubbing a back or rocking a baby if they're taking longer than usual to fall asleep. I've got one baby who I bottle feed/rock, then I'll go to anyone else who's kinda restless that day. Many times that's no one, but many times there's one or two still wiggling around. We always rubbed backs/rocked/held babies at the centres where I worked, I've just always thought that's kind of normal.

No, I don't have my own kids yet, just a bunch of nieces and nephews

[Blackcat31]

I've worked in childcare for over 10 years now (ECE for 8), but mostly in a center. Home daycare for just over a year now.
I can hear you all out there, "ohhh, yup. You'll be changing your tune soon enough.."
And I'm sure I will change things over time, and not put up with some things I do now, as a new provider.

But I am really stubborn and set in my idealistic ways... I always look at things from the developmental perspective, and it's a really hard thing to balance as a home daycare provider--what works in the real world vs. what's developmentally realistic for a child.
Like when you need 4 or 5 young children to all sleep together in one room, and there's only one adult!

Just to clarify-- I don't coddle each kid every day or anything, ... I just don't object to rubbing a back or rocking a baby if they're taking longer than usual to fall asleep. I've got one baby who I bottle feed/rock, then I'll go to anyone else who's kinda restless that day. Many times that's no one, but many times there's one or two still wiggling around. We always rubbed backs/rocked/held babies at the centres where I worked, I've just always thought that's kind of normal.

No, I don't have my own kids yet, just a bunch of nieces and nephews

I was just curious how many years experience you had as a business owner

[Josiegirl]

Napping, potty training, and having kids eat veggies. Three places in my dc where I could use more cooperation from the kids. Lol And not one of those things can be forced upon a child.
I have a couple dcks who don't like to nap and one of those kids, I swear, is practicing gymnastics the whole of quiet time. One dcg I had to separate completely from the group, just turned 3, because she'd keep getting off her cot, screaming, running around, etc. I have no idea what caused the change but I ended up putting her cot in the kitchen and it worked like a charm. Maybe it's the hum of the refrigerator, IDK. I have music playing while they rest.
I have heard from the dcps of all of them, that they'll lay down with them at home, co-sleep, or the gymnastics dcg won't fall asleep at night until 9-10, whether she has napped here or not. Dcm says 'looks like she just doesn't require that much sleep'. But she's all wiggly at home too, and co-sleeps. It sounds like musical beds for them at night.
Anyways, Chickadee-tree, while I agree with some of what you said, I still think a 3 yo needs to rest her body and take that break during the day. I wouldn't actually compare it to an adult waiting in a waiting room though. Lots of variables between those 2 situations. But I do think a 2 hour quiet time for those not able to fall asleep is probably too much.
I let them have books and stuffed animals during nap time, if they've earned them during the a.m. I keep them separated with barriers so they can't see each other(though they scoot around a lot ) and I play music. Depending on who it is, after 45 minutes, I will let them up into the living room to play quietly. In the past, I've given quiet boxes for those who didn't sleep. It worked as long as they got something fresh and new every day, to hold their interest.
I'm lucky to have quiet time from 12:30-2. Wednesday it was 12:30-1:15 because of a crier waking the rest up. So the rest of the day was bumpy.:confused:
I have a 5 yo this summer; she was in FT prek this past school season and attends another dc when I can't take her. She sleeps in both of the other places but knows what strings to pull here. However she's MUCH quieter than she used to be now. Rather than coming to me every 5 minutes complaining she's bored, she entertains herself nicely until others wake up.
So yeh, nap time for non-nappers is hard so if you cannot make it work for 1, make it work for the rest and do what you have to do for the better of your group, AND your own sanity. You're in a good position since you technically don't need the income.

[Play Care]

I can and I have termed due to non-napping.
My own kids dropped naps around 3, so I sympathize. I simply can't accommodate it - in my state non nappers can NOT watch tv, and I don't have the space for them to be awake elsewhere and doing provider led activity.
My contract says "if your child has outgrown nap they have outgrown my care."
I would not give another month, you've BTDT. Two week notice.

[NillaWafers]

Napping, potty training, and having kids eat veggies. Three places in my dc where I could use more cooperation from the kids. Lol And not one of those things can be forced upon a child.
I have a couple dcks who don't like to nap and one of those kids, I swear, is practicing gymnastics the whole of quiet time. One dcg I had to separate completely from the group, just turned 3, because she'd keep getting off her cot, screaming, running around, etc. I have no idea what caused the change but I ended up putting her cot in the kitchen and it worked like a charm. Maybe it's the hum of the refrigerator, IDK. I have music playing while they rest.
I have heard from the dcps of all of them, that they'll lay down with them at home, co-sleep, or the gymnastics dcg won't fall asleep at night until 9-10, whether she has napped here or not. Dcm says 'looks like she just doesn't require that much sleep'. But she's all wiggly at home too, and co-sleeps. It sounds like musical beds for them at night.
Anyways, Chickadee-tree, while I agree with some of what you said, I still think a 3 yo needs to rest her body and take that break during the day. I wouldn't actually compare it to an adult waiting in a waiting room though. Lots of variables between those 2 situations. But I do think a 2 hour quiet time for those not able to fall asleep is probably too much.
I let them have books and stuffed animals during nap time, if they've earned them during the a.m. I keep them separated with barriers so they can't see each other(though they scoot around a lot ) and I play music. Depending on who it is, after 45 minutes, I will let them up into the living room to play quietly. In the past, I've given quiet boxes for those who didn't sleep. It worked as long as they got something fresh and new every day, to hold their interest.
I'm lucky to have quiet time from 12:30-2. Wednesday it was 12:30-1:15 because of a crier waking the rest up. So the rest of the day was bumpy.:confused:
I have a 5 yo this summer; she was in FT prek this past school season and attends another dc when I can't take her. She sleeps in both of the other places but knows what strings to pull here. However she's MUCH quieter than she used to be now. Rather than coming to me every 5 minutes complaining she's bored, she entertains herself nicely until others wake up.
So yeh, nap time for non-nappers is hard so if you cannot make it work for 1, make it work for the rest and do what you have to do for the better of your group, AND your own sanity. You're in a good position since you technically don't need the income.

Ok, I've given it a lot of thought. I've decided to give it one last push. I will be putting her in the kitchen now. Heavy blanket, white noise. Hoping even if hse doesn't sleep she won't interrupt and I won't have to term at least.

Hubby and I are trying to pay off debt to move to the NW, so losing that income would mean we wouldn't get up there as fast. Even if it wouldn't technically hurt us a ton to lose it, I'd rather not have to fill that spot.

If she doesn't show improvement with this (no chart, no rewards, just separation, and quiet), I will term for sure. This is pretty hard for me because honestly, I enjoy her most of the day unless it's naptime.

[CityGarden]

I would not term, but I would have a very candid conversation with the mom / dad about the challenges you are having and ask them to partner with you in a consistent routine at home.

My reasoning for not terming is that you have been working hard to fill the two open spots you have at present.... maybe after you fill those consider terming. I just don't think you want the stress of three open spots, since two children are your own I just don't know if it's worth the work for so few dcks.

[Unregistered]

I wouldn't term. But that is just me.

Especially if she does well throughout the rest of the day.

In addition I don't have the luxury of terming for that reason. It's not so easy to replace kids here.

I have two separate DC rooms and I have had one preschool non napper play quietly in the smaller room where we eat. So it's table toys, & quiet table activities.

Over the years I've had to put a child in my dining room and that's where I'd lay this child. It's different for you. Your own child is up and this little girl sounds like she won't lay quietly for at least an hour. I need at least an hour for a break.

It's a tough situation! I just find I don't have to term non-nap ores because I don't have my own kids at home and my separate DC rooms.

[Pestle]

I feel you--I have a difficult pair of siblings, and the older one screams. bloody. murder all through nap time. She's age three. When she sees her brother pass out, she yells, "He fell asleep! He's asleep!" over and over again. It takes 1-1.5 hours to get both of them to sleep.

Her mother says she naps at home without any problem.

On days when I only have the siblings, I put them down on mats and stay close by so I can remove the younger one to the quiet corner when he tries to trample his sister. But when there's another napper here, I've resorted to sticking the stompy kid in a crib so he won't break the other kids' ribs, and plunking this big girl down in the baby's crib in the living room and letting her scream (and scream, and scream) for half an hour until she's worn out and finally sleeps. I'm opposed to cribs for any child who can crawl (Montessori family here), so it's embarrassing that I'm doing this. Due to the younger brother's aggressive behavior, I've taken y'alls advice and am now advertising three available spaces instead of just one--if I can find a family that pays on time, produces vaccination records without a fuss, and has children who aren't actively trying to break everything I own, I'll be happy to term.

[NillaWafers]

Just an update. I moved her to the kitchen for naps. She is much quieter there without the other kids - if she doesn't nap, oh well. But often after an hour she is asleep. So this is much more tolerable to me than having to sit by her.