Kids who don't nap

[Mommy]

Hello everyone. So I have a couple new kids starting next month and the parents of each child informed me their child does not nap. One is three and a half and the other four. Nap time is my time to get snack ready, clean,dishes and relax. What do you guys do with the older kids that don't nap for you ? This was supposed to be my me time to prepare for the afternoon. Any thoughts ??

[Inspired by Reggio]

EVERYONE RESTS HERE and that is right in my handbook

REST TIME is not negotiable ... for a one hour period following lunch everyone RESTS so that I can have my lunch break and recharge my batteries and so can THEY ... if after that hour they are a TRUE non sleeper and did not fall asleep while resting than they are invited to engage in quiet activities in the livingroom while the others who need to sleep sleep ~ if they cannot be QUIET while doing that and risk waking up others than they rest on their bed until everyone is up

Honestly in my 6th year of home childcare and only had 1 kid who had TRULY outgrown her nap on a consistent basis and she was 6 years old and even she napped a few times each month cause she was 'fighting something' or was just over exhausted from play ... all the research on sleep and health states that children under the age of 6 still NEED 12-14 hours of sleep so unless they are in bed from 6pm - 8am daily chance are they are not getting all they NEED at night and therefore need a nap

[Mamma_Mia]

My 5yr old dcg naps when she's here on PA days. Age means nothing....kids sleep because they need it not because they're lazy. I'd try to get them to REST and they happen to fall alseep in the dark warm room with no noise (LOL evil laugh) then so be it.

[apples and bananas]

Yup, everyone has quiet time here too. The nap for at least 2 hours and the big ones are required to stay quiet for the same. I tell parents right upfront that this is the expectation. If they don`t like it... move on! I need my quiet time.

[Crayola kiddies]

Everyone naps here too ... Not an option. I would put them on a sleep mat away from each other and tell them to rest quietly till I come back. This should be something that I would have discussed at the interview and for me this is a deal breaker.... I wouldn't have signed them on.

[Inspired by Reggio]

.... This should be something that I would have discussed at the interview and for me this is a deal breaker.... I wouldn't have signed them on.

Agreed I am very passionate about protecting the sleep of children ~ I get so frustrated when parents confuse the normal stage of 'sleep time resistance' at around age 3 with no longer NEEDING a nap .... I would not have signed on if they 'expected' me to keep their kid UP/ENGAGED the entire day because I truly believe children NEED to at the very least rest their body in the afternoon so they are in a state to 'sleep if needed'.

[Momof4]

Everyone naps here too. Even my PA day only boy as MammaMia stated. He plays his DS quietly for about 45 minutes in the dark on his bed then closes his eyes and sleeps for the next hour. I have an every other day JK girl who naps when she's here too. It isn't an option at my daycare because I need that break in the middle of my day or I would burn out quickly because I work hard and a lot of hours. So Do You!!!

[monkeymama]

I have a 4yo dcb who comes alternate kindergarten days and does not nap. For the first hour, he lays on my couch and looks at books and usually watches a movie. Next hour he does quiet activities ie. puzzles, coloring pictures etc. He knows he has to stay quiet and his parents are aware of my rules and are ok with it. This week he has been fighting a cold so he spent most of the time on my couch, in and out of sleep.

[daycarewhisperer]

I don't provide services to children who don't need a full afternoon nap.

[mlle.coccinelle]

Same here... children need that time to rest and so do I! We don't get breaks, we don't get a lunch break and we work really hard to keep the peace, make sure everyone is having fun and learning tons! We deserve that ''break time''