Using potty to get out of quiet time

[BlueRose]

The dcg that I have doesn't like quiet time. If I call it nap time she starts crying. If I ask her to lay down (she closes her eyes, then starts to fall over) she starts crying. She keeps telling me that she does not need to sleep.

Now she has decided that instead of sitting/laying on her mat she is going to sit on the potty. She has been there for the last 30 min. She hasn't even gone to the bathroom. At first she want me to put her on the toilet. I said no, she could use the potty. This is my break and I am caring for my 10 month old (her crying woke him up). She then starts crying about who her dad says she has to use the toilet. I put my son down and went to her. I tell her that when she is here she has to follow my rules, not her father's. she has stopped crying, but is still on the potty.

Should I just leave her there or have her go back to her mat?
She is being quiet.

I am fighting a very bad head cold, which the father new about, but brought her anyways. He had to work and mom had school, so I do understand. But all I want to do is sit on the sofa and not listen to any crying. I can not wait until her dad gets here at 6pm.

[BrightEyes]

I would tell her she has 5mins or however long on the potty. Set a timer so that she knows when the sound goes off she must go back to her mat and have quiet time. I would be very strict about it or she will continue to fight it every day. After a few days she will get the point and know your home, your rules.

[BlueRose]

She can out two min after I posted the thread. She just stood in the hall staring at me.
I told her to lay down on her mat. She is now sitting on it, but is leaning forward so her head is on the mat.

[BrightEyes]

Children really like to test us. Especially in the beginning. I wish you the best of luck with her! lol

[BlueRose]

She is now sound asleep.

[mimi]

Oh the toddler battlefield! They try the tricks on us that work at home and it can be confusing for them when they realize they don't work at d/c. I would put her on the potty before rest time and the put her on the mat with some books and a quiet toy. When you check on her and she is still on the mat congratulate her and remind her of the rest time rules. If she comes off the mat tell her you are not pleased, remind her of the rest time rules and then give a stern look. I had the same experience with a dcg. It was a battle of wills for a week, but she learned in about a week that I wasn't budging on the rules.
I need a little vent. I just had a dad call 3x in 5 minutes during naptime as I had a messy potty butt to wipe. I answered the third time to "oh I quess it's naptime" to which I replied "not anymore, I'll have to give it another try to settle them" dad ignored this and said he thought his son didn't need a nap anymore as he is up late every evening. I reminded Dad that his seasonal schedule change has given his son more time to sleep(they come later) in so he may want to rise him at his regular time because here, he still needs to nap. He was a little flustered at more forth right approach but seriously, I will not sacrafice the quiet of nap/rest time so this Dad can sleep in.
O.K. I feel better now.

[gcj]

she needs a time timer. Her "quiet time" begins only when she's lying still on the mat. As long as she's on the potty, standing, even sitting on the mat, it hasn't begun....or has to keep restarting. So she's only wasting time and will still have to spend the same amount of time lying down. I had one like that last year. The potty was her excuse as well. Drove me nuts!

[Crayola kiddies]

I would put her on the potty before nap time and then that's it . I would not give toys or books they would have to earn those here. Rest/nap/stare at the wall what ever floats your boat for an hour and a half and if you can do that then you get a book till quiet time is over .

[gcj]

How old is she? The one I had pulling tricks like this last year had JUST turned 4. Just curious...

[BlueRose]

She will turn 3 in mid November.

I did have her use the potty before quiet time. But she said she had to go again. I will know next time that its not true.

The first few days I let her play with 2 dolls. But she keep closing her eyes and falling over. So I know she needs a nap. parents say she doesn't nap at home. Starting Monday no toys at all. She must lay down. She has proved to me today that she can sleep here, so she can no longer tell me she can't.

Monday I will be feeling much better, so no more being nice and letting things slide. This is my daycare, so my rules, not hers. This head cold has had me floored for the last few days.