Nap time

[playfelt]

What the child is craving as soon as she gets home is the parents' attention. It isn't about being tired necessarily as it is about just wanting to be held securely. Many parents find it works well to take the child home and have a snack and cuddle for awhile before rushing to the kitchen to make supper. Maybe she could try that to determine if it really is tired or if it is hunger - how long between afternoon snack and hometime, that sort of thing.

At the same time it is possible to curtail the activities of the older children in the sense of teaching them some empathy for the needs of others. When the baby is sleeping there are certain toys we don't play with and certain things we don't do which keeps the noise level down. They are reminded about why we are acting that way and why the limits are in place. It is important for everyone in the group to be respectful of the needs of others. So for the hour of naptime music is a closed centre, the fire engine toy is put up on the shelf, the hallway is offlimits, that sort of thing.