Dr. Says No More Naptime

[familyschoolcare]

I worked in a pre-k for 3 years and several of the children needed a nap until the day they whet to kindergarten. Some of them still needed a nap once in Kindergarten it was a private school so we where able to offer a after noon rest (at their desk) which was phased out when the "class" out grew the need for it usually before Christmas. On the other hand several of the children had out grown their nap before Christmas of their pre-k year and would not fall asleep just sit/lay on mat for the entire 2 hour nap time.

Naps needs are not the same for every child.

There is more than one right way to run a child care center/home. Not all of them are the right fit for every child. Some providers run a all children nap program, others run a some nap some do not, and still other run a no nap time program. All of these program are a right way to run child care program. None of them are the one right way.

I think we have discussed this enough maybe we could move on.
We seem to be posting the same thing over and over again.

[Unregistered]

A lot of kids go back to needing a nap when they start school.. it isn't unusual. If a school aged kid needs a nap, they get one. If they don't, then they don't. Some do just fine with some "quiet time" but not necessarily sleep. My own kid is in grade 5.. he certainly doesn't nap anymore but he does need "me time" when he gets home. He doesn't want to talk much about his day or anything else.. he wants to veg out for 20 minutes or so. He'll talk later.

IMO being a childcare provider is about meeting the child's needs. If my set up doesn't do that then those kids shouldn't be here. I don't believe in forcing them to comply with my standards if those standards aren't right for them. This is home daycare, not the military. Therefore I don't have a policy that says "everyone must nap" or whatever. My own needs vary from day to day.. I fully expect a child's needs to do the same. Some days little ones may need a little more cuddle time than others.. and some days an older kids rest needs will be different, too. As someone else said, they aren't robots.

[parent]

Mama

I'm shocked to read your responses. It seems you are not clear on your role. Have you forgotten that these parents have hired you to care for their children? You are the sitter; they are the parents. You must feel quite secure in your employment to dismiss families for making their wishes known.

[DBug]

I'm shocked to read your responses. It seems you are not clear on your role. Have you forgotten that these parents have hired you to care for their children? You are the sitter; they are the parents. You must feel quite secure in your employment to dismiss families for making their wishes known.

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[Crystal]

I'm shocked to read your responses. It seems you are not clear on your role. Have you forgotten that these parents have hired you to care for their children? You are the sitter; they are the parents. You must feel quite secure in your employment to dismiss families for making their wishes known.

LOL! Even though I disagree with many of the providers who demand naptime, as a provider who does accomodate non-napping children, and works closely with families to meet the needs of their children, I find your post laughable.

Not one of my clients have hired me as their sitter. I do not take orders from them. I provide them with a parent policy handbook, a contract and we negotiate the needs of their child/family (they can take it or leave it) Other than deciding if THEY want to enroll or not, I make the final decisions. I have never dismissed a client due to not being able to negotiate their needs, BUT I would dismiss them in a hot second if they came to me and demanded that I do as they say.

And, yes, I AM quite secure in my employment. I have been doing this for 15 years, have not lost even ONE client due to anything other than moving (way) out of the area (I have had several families move and commute over an hour to get to me) am always operating at capacity and have a waitlist. So, yes, I am secure enough in my employment that if a parent ever treated me disrepectfully, as you have done with all of the providers on this forum, they's be shown the door.

[saved4always]

LOL! Even though I disagree with many of the providers who demand naptime, as a provider who does accomodate non-napping children, and works closely with families to meet the needs of their children, I find your post laughable.

Not one of my clients have hired me as their sitter. I do not take orders from them. I provide them with a parent policy handbook, a contract and we negotiate the needs of their child/family (they can take it or leave it) Other than deciding if THEY want to enroll or not, I make the final decisions. I have never dismissed a client due to not being able to negotiate their needs, BUT I would dismiss them in a hot second if they came to me and demanded that I do as they say.

And, yes, I AM quite secure in my employment. I have been doing this for 15 years, have not lost even ONE client due to anything other than moving (way) out of the area (I have had several families move and commute over an hour to get to me) am always operating at capacity and have a waitlist. So, yes, I am secure enough in my employment that if a parent ever treated me disrepectfully, as you have done with all of the providers on this forum, they's be shown the door.

Yep...I am with Crystal. My business, my house, my policies. If parents do not agree with how I run my business, then they will choose someplace else. I would also show "parent guest" to the door. I have never had a parent be so disrespectful to me. My DCP's and I work together for the good of thier children; they do not demand and dictate how things are going to happen in my home. And I also am definitely secure enough in my "employment" that I would not put up with disrespect or demands that do not fit MY home business.

[JenNJ]

LOL! Even though I disagree with many of the providers who demand naptime, as a provider who does accomodate non-napping children, and works closely with families to meet the needs of their children, I find your post laughable.

Not one of my clients have hired me as their sitter. I do not take orders from them. I provide them with a parent policy handbook, a contract and we negotiate the needs of their child/family (they can take it or leave it) Other than deciding if THEY want to enroll or not, I make the final decisions. I have never dismissed a client due to not being able to negotiate their needs, BUT I would dismiss them in a hot second if they came to me and demanded that I do as they say.

And, yes, I AM quite secure in my employment. I have been doing this for 15 years, have not lost even ONE client due to anything other than moving (way) out of the area (I have had several families move and commute over an hour to get to me) am always operating at capacity and have a waitlist. So, yes, I am secure enough in my employment that if a parent ever treated me disrepectfully, as you have done with all of the providers on this forum, they's be shown the door.

Well said!

[JenNJ]

I'm shocked to read your responses. It seems you are not clear on your role. Have you forgotten that these parents have hired you to care for their children? You are the sitter; they are the parents. You must feel quite secure in your employment to dismiss families for making their wishes known.

Oh, but you are correct. They are WISHES, not commands. I choose if I want to grant the wish or not. Just call me Jeanie! ::

[Jewels]

I do not make children over 4 take a nap, I put the kids that don't need naps downstairs(( their are children sleeping in rooms down there also), and I turn the TV, on and they have coloring books and markers and crayons, and puzzles, and they are very quiet, and very good during nap time, and never come up and ask me for anything, they know that it is quiet time, and that it is a privledge that they can stay up. These children all get plenty of sleep at night, and they are old enough to stay up, my son was still napping at 4, but once I had a couple other kids that didn't need naps, I felt bad putting my own son down who was the same age, and my son would still fall asleep everyday when I would put him down, but he would also kick and turn in his bed for a good couple hours at night, and since hes stopped taking naps, hes out really fast, and he sleeps longer in the mornings. I have had parents tell me, when their child is starting to have hard times falling asleep at night, and I have no problem taking away naps, I say once they are 4 and old enough to understand they need to stay quiet, they can stay up, I really can't imagine any of my 5 yr olds sleeping for 2-3 hours at nap, One of them will fall asleep almost everyday for 20 minutes, a nice power nap, and a child this age, All i think they would neep would be a short power nap.
I think if a child is staying up until 1-2am that it would only be reasonable for the provider to try to help by taking away naps, whats the most important is the childs sleep at night, and if the naps are contributing to this, than why not try to help out for the child, and if this kid is in counseling, and their taking him to dr's, it sounds like they are really trying to help their child, and they are looking for help, I do think they should take a couple days off work, and try to get him on a no napping schedule, be at home with no errands or anything for a thurs-sun, back to daycare on monday.