Morning nap

[mango]

Hi
I currently have dck's that are all around 12m-14m of age. I'm considering taking on a part-timer that is 3yrs old. Right now it is easy because they all nap but I know that it will be a little more challenging when I add in one child that doesn't. Anyone else in this situation (majority am naps) and if so, what do you do? Is it worth taking on a part-time dck that is older?

[Busy ECE mommy]

All of my kids have to do nap time up to age 4. If they don't nap, they have outgrown my program.

[mickyc]

Personally if you have all kids that nap in the morning I wouldn't take a child who doesn't.

For me on the other hand have never done morning naps (I only have 2 under 2 at any given time). If a child under 2 is napping twice at home during the day they are quickly transitioned out of it here. I only do 1 naps and all kids must nap up until age 4.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have more often than not had at least one child who needs a morning nap as well as an afternoon one. I nap them first thing in the morning for a quick 30-45 minutes. It has thankfully never messed up their afternoon nap from 1230-3. I have one right now who morning naps and 3 who don't. I have tried to transition him out of it but he is sooooo not ready lol. He is an absolute grump by 930 if I try to skip his 830 nap lol.

I have also had what you have, 3 morning nappers and 1 awake and it's absolutely fine. He napped in the afternoon with all 3 again so it's not like I didn't get a break. He would either watch tv for a bit or we would do something special together while they had a quick nap.

[SillyGirl_C]

5 Little Monkeys...I have read a ton of your posts. Frankly, you sound like an amazing d/care provider. I hope your families realize what a gem you are.

[5 Little Monkeys]

5 Little Monkeys...I have read a ton of your posts. Frankly, you sound like an amazing d/care provider. I hope your families realize what a gem you are.

Awe, thank you! That is very kind of you to say I absolutely love my job and yes, for the most part I've always had fantastic families. They often tell me that I'm appreciated and they are glad to have found me, so that is very nice and I love that they tell me this! I'm also very quick to tell my families how I appreciate them too, especially more so now that I've dealt with some that were a bit of a handful lol.

I've had a few leave for cheaper care who have contacted me and asked if they could come back but unfortunately I didn't have space for them. I have to admit that it feels good knowing that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. However, cheaper care is sometimes just a necessity and I don't fault anyone for leaving for that reason! Lots have found great care who charge less than me so it was a good decision for their family!

[mango]

Thanks everyone fpr your advice It's not the afternoon naps that concern me- everyone naps here in the pm as well. It's the morning that I wonder about. I was more wondering what others would do with the older child while putting down the younger ones.

[Rachael]

I have 5 under 2 years at the moment but only one morning napper - like someone else above, I put her down for a power nap early in the morning and then wake her after 45 mins so we can head outside.
There have been times over the years when some of my older children don't nap at all but the little ones do.
I don't have any screen time here but if children are napping we do the quieter activities. Story books, puzzles, colouring, building blocks, shape shorting, colour sorting, threading pasta tubes onto strings to make necklaces, all those sorts of things.
Any battery operated toy is out of bounds during quiet times as is free play as I find that's when my crew seem to be extra noisy.

[Crayola kiddies]

This would be a good time to do some one on one stuff ... Puzzles, letter/number recognition, printing skills, a more advanced craft, and maybe she could help prepare morning snack

[kassiemom]

I think that it depends on the child and how needy or active he is. If he is the type of kid who can sit and do quiet play like puzzles or colouring or even watch a show on tv while you tidy up or prepare lunch then i'd say go for it because soon all the kids will start dropping morning naps. But if he is high needs and rambunctious then i'd say the program doesn't suit his needs. he would have more fun somewhere that he could be outside all morning with other kids his age