What Do You Do With Non-Nappers?

[LeslieG]

I have a family with a 4 year old inquiring about my daycare. They want to know what I do with children who do not nap. I don't really know what to tell her because I've never had a child that didn't nap.

So I'm curious, what do you do with non-nappers? I'm especially interested in what you do if you don't have a large area.

Thank you!

[Claraskids]

Simple but maybe harsh - I don't enroll.
It is stated in my handbook that "children who have outgrown afternoon naps have outgrown my daycare." Keep in mind that I graduate children when they start kindergarten so I don't take school agers.
I made the exception once with a mellow 5 year old the summer before she started school. It was still too much work.

[Play Care]

I don't take them.

My state regs prohibit me from napping a child who I know doesn't need the nap. They are supposed to get provider led activity while everyone else is napping. IME, there is no way to do this, and the kids under 6 don't have the ability to play/work quietly for 2 hours.
I simply don't have the space to accommodate that. My contract says quiet time is mandatory and a child who has outgrown quiet time has outgrown my care.

[LeslieG]

Simple but maybe harsh - I don't enroll.
It is stated in my handbook that "children who have outgrown afternoon naps have outgrown my daycare." Keep in mind that I graduate children when they start kindergarten so I don't take school agers.
I made the exception once with a mellow 5 year old the summer before she started school. It was still too much work.

That's a great idea to put that in your policies. I, too, do not take children once they start kindergarten. Thank you!

[Blackcat31]

That's a great idea to put that in your policies. I, too, do not take children once they start kindergarten. Thank you!

My handbook says "I do not accept children that do not participate in afternoon rest time. If a child no longer requires afternoon rest time, they have outgrown my program and will need to seek alternate care"

Once they start Kindy, I don't take them anymore anyways.

[daycarediva]

I don't take them.

My state regs prohibit me from napping a child who I know doesn't need the nap. They are supposed to get provider led activity while everyone else is napping. IME, there is no way to do this, and the kids under 6 don't have the ability to play/work quietly for 2 hours.
I simply don't have the space to accommodate that. My contract says quiet time is mandatory and a child who has outgrown quiet time has outgrown my care.

Provider led? Where does it say that!? I just thought they had to be allowed off their mat. So crazy how it's up to interpretation. My registrar says that they are required to have a 'rest period' (which is what I call naptime anyway) what I do is have my 4yo non napper rest for 30 minutes. If she isn't asleep after that, she gets up, goes into the quiet area (books, kid furniture, small table) and does an a quiet activity of her choosing. It's right next to me, so we whisper if she wants to talk, but I don't DO anything with her. She naps about 1/2 the time, she's incredibly quiet and never disrupts the other kids when she stays awake.

[Gemma]

Simple but maybe harsh - I don't enroll.
It is stated in my handbook that "children who have outgrown afternoon naps have outgrown my daycare." Keep in mind that I graduate children when they start kindergarten so I don't take school agers.
I made the exception once with a mellow 5 year old the summer before she started school. It was still too much work.

I do exactly that^

[Sumshine]

My son rarely naps and every once in a blue moon 3 yr old DCB doesn't nap either. They have the choice of
A- Watching some TV on their cots in the general daycare area while the others nap in the adjacent room
B- Playing very quietly with something on their cot if they'd like or on our table

It's worked out well so far. 9 out of 10 times my son lays down on his cot the entire time watching tv or he will play legos or something. If he gets to be too wild he gets no tv and has to do an activity that isn't his "fav" that I pick for him so he has learned quick being quiet is important

I don't think I could handle a handful of non nappers but 1 or 2 older ones (4-5) wouldn't kill me. I can still get stuff done during quiet time and watch them without worry of supervision risks. It's whatever you're comfortable with. Ask me in a year or 2 I'll probably tell you I don't take non nappers either because man I just need a break in my day!

[Play Care]

Provider led? Where does it say that!? I just thought they had to be allowed off their mat. So crazy how it's up to interpretation. My registrar says that they are required to have a 'rest period' (which is what I call naptime anyway) what I do is have my 4yo non napper rest for 30 minutes. If she isn't asleep after that, she gets up, goes into the quiet area (books, kid furniture, small table) and does an a quiet activity of her choosing. It's right next to me, so we whisper if she wants to talk, but I don't DO anything with her. She naps about 1/2 the time, she's incredibly quiet and never disrupts the other kids when she stays awake.

Provider led isn't in the regs, but I'm pretty sure not making non-nappers lay down is (I recall reading it at some point and my licensor specifically asked about it on a inspection) I should have been more clear - IME, younger non-nappers need provider led activity to keep quiet.
The summer before K is when I stop napping kids so they can get used to it. But then they are done with my care.

[Second Home]

Here all non school aged children are required to have a rest time per the regs .

We are only allowed 30 minutes of tv per week . So no movies for a child who does not nap .

I will not take a child who does not nap . I understand that once in a while a child may not nap . But I will not enroll a child when I am told up front that they do not nap.

[Poptarts22]

Everyone here is required to either nap, or rest quietly on their mat. If they can't remain quietly resting or playing then they have outgrown my care

[Unregistered]

Same here as pp. Also if a child is being disruptive during nap time so other children cannot nap, I have in my handbook that parents will be called for pick up.

[LostMyMarbles]

I have half who do not nap. When my little are napping, I get good quality time with my non nappers. Its time to bust out the manuplatives with smaller pieces, legos, paints, or games. I am not one who needs me time during work hours. My non nappers LOVE this time of the day and so do I.

[Play Care]

I have half who do not nap. When my little are napping, I get good quality time with my non nappers. Its time to bust out the manuplatives with smaller pieces, legos, paints, or games. I am not one who needs me time during work hours. My non nappers LOVE this time of the day and so do I.

"Me" time?! I wish, . I'm cleaning, sanitizing, doing paperwork, planning the menu for the month, making sure kids cubbies are packed up (some of my kiddos get picked up right after nap) I have SA kids, so I'm setting up snack and activities to keep them busy until pick up. I actually have to PACK my lunch even though I WAH because occasionally I get so busy I forget to eat

Me time....::::::::

I am one that believes that "me" time comes after the work day is over.

[debbiedoeszip]

I have a family with a 4 year old inquiring about my daycare. They want to know what I do with children who do not nap. I don't really know what to tell her because I've never had a child that didn't nap.

So I'm curious, what do you do with non-nappers? I'm especially interested in what you do if you don't have a large area.

Thank you!

I had a non-napper yesterday (PA day at school; he's the older brother of my FT dcb). I had him (just turned 5) do some non-messy art (colouring, cutting, etc), reading, let him listen to an audiobook from youtube, and let him play with the foam blocks. I have a separate nap room for the nappers but it's directly off of the playroom and one of my dckids is a super light sleeper so I have to keep the playroom quiet when she's napping.

I think he was bored to tears, but it was only an hour and a half and he kept quiet. Dealing with boredom is a good skill to learn. I was happy to provide him with an opportunity to practice LOL.