Nap time advice please

[superfun]

I'm pretty new to running a daycare, and I didn't expect this issue to come up with this family. I am hoping to get some advice on how to deal with it.
Currently my oldest dck is just over 2 years old. He's been gone for Christmas break, and he'll be back on Monday. I just got a message from the dad saying dcb doesn't take afternoon naps anymore. I know before the break, he was having a hard time sleeping at bedtime. He was staying awake hours after they put him to bed and getting up really early. When he's here, he rarely made it all the way to nap time without falling asleep on our walk home from school before lunch. So now they're saying they cut out his naps and he's sleeping great at night. I really can't imagine this boy could go all day without a nap.
I really like this family and the boy is great. I want to handle this professionally, but I don't want to deal with a grumpy tired kid all day.

[playfelt]

Most providers have a one hour rule - basically it is a time for each child to have to not deal with anything. Those that need to fall asleep and stay asleep as long as they need. Other kids rest the hour and recharge and then get up and do quiet activities - generally they are a year older than this child though.

It is possible it works at home because child is sleeping in a bit longer in the morning negating the powernap he was having before. Also they may be playing one on one with him to keep him going which is not something you intend to do at daycare. I would put him down as early as you can and leave him there for 45-60 minutes and then get him up if he is still awake but chances are he will be asleep .Try to wake him earlier than normal so there is a longer period between nap and bedtime. We do outside play after nap so they burn off accumulated energy and make up for the nap. I would be noncommittal but say child still needs to lay down in one place and rest while you clean up from lunch and eat yourself and then you will be able to supervise and give him attention. Do not tell mom if he falls asleep. Chances are even with a short nap at your house bedtime will still go ok.

[ttremble88]

For those whom are older or their parents do not think that they need to nap anymore, I have mandatory quiet time. Quiet time lasts for the entire nap time but it is split into sections. First, you sit quietly an watch a movie. If find that half of the kids fall asleep during this time. When the movie is over, you are allowed to sit on the couch and read books or at the table and colour. Both of which are done QUIETLY. This way the kids have the option of sleeping, or if they indeed are NOT tired, they are quiet.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have one child who also doesn't nap due to bedtime issues. I was okay with it as she is quiet and will watch tv, read a book, do a puzzle or play quietly. I re-did my contract for the new year and did say in there that each child is required to lay down for at least 30 minutes. I had been doing this with her for about the past month or so anyways and her parents were fine with it after I explained it is my only 30 minutes kid-free I get during my work day. Maybe you could try that?

[superfun]

Thank you for all the input. It's been very helpful.

[Crayola kiddies]

Quiet/nap time is not negotiable in my day home .... I have a just turned 3 yr old and apparently she does not nap at home and they wanted me to stop napping her and I told them that she was required to lay down quietly and if she fell asleep I would wake her after 60 minutes but she still yad to stay on her nap mat and that worked for them and I have another 2.5 yr old that the parents keep asking me to shorten the nap and I have agreed to wake her after 2 hours but again she is required to stay in the pnp. I have children sleeping in various parts of the house and therefore I can't have children up playing ... The children I have are not able to just sit and color or look at books for any longer then about 5 mins at a time and I'm having my break and I'm not in the play room for supervision. So they are required to stay where they are put ... End of story ..... A lot of providers will often say " if you have outgrown your nap you have out grown my daycare"

[playfelt]

The staying put is my reason for the lay down first and rest and I will come back for you - I need to know that I have a specific amount of time to do what I need to do and then I am ready to interact with the child too. It is more of a mental break for me as I really don't care if a child is up while I eat my lunch but I want to be able to not have to think about what they are doing. I vary the length of time I go back for the child on how their behaviour was all morning, how busy our morning was, how long it takes me to do what I had planned for naptime, etc.