The 'nap' issue surfaces again...amongst others

[mickyc]

Do you have a copy of their separation agreement?

For split families I would be very particular in noting who paid every payday. I would write out one receipt for the child and at the bottom split it up showing who paid what amount. Give them each a copy (noting on the receipt that both parents provided receipt). Then leave it to them to fight out who claims what. You would have covered everything on the receipt.

As for nap it is not negotiable here for any child under 4. I would have just told the dad all kids are required to nap. I would have then ignored any other texts about other children in your care. None of his business.

[Fun&care]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing on the receipt front. All you can do now is let them sort it out.

As for naps...my own daughter outgrew naps at about age 2 1/2 and so I totally get what it's like to have your child stay up past 10pm because they are getting too much sleep during the day. It turns into a vicious cycle, the lack of sleep the night before catches up with them and so they need a nap, which only perpetuates the cycle...it often has very little to do with a parents ability to put their child to sleep.

Here kids 3 and under have to nap the full 2 hours. But kids 3 and up (whose parents have requested "no nap") are still required to lie down for one hour (no questions asked, this is until they go to school) and after I allow them to come up and watch TV for the remainder of naptime.

[flowerchild]

Here kids 3 and under have to nap the full 2 hours. But kids 3 and up (whose parents have requested "no nap") are still required to lie down for one hour (no questions asked, this is until they go to school) and after I allow them to come up and watch TV for the remainder of naptime.

I have a similar policy. All kids under three have a nap. Others have to have a "quiet rest time" where they usually watch a movie. If they aren't watching a movie, they are resting on the couch with books for the first hour and then they can do puzzles etc quietly afterwards. If they are tired enough to fall asleep, they will be allowed to sleep for a bit.

Have you ever had a parent insist on no sleeping whatsoever? How did you deal with it?

My thought is that if they are that tired, they need a little cat nap to get them through the rest of the day. I'm also not willing to force a child to stay awake for two hours. A. it's not practical. I have things to get done. I can't sit beside a child and make sure he or she stays awake. B. it's horrible for the child. It will make for a miserable mood and that's just a bad day for everyone.

[Fun&care]

ooohhhhhh yes, I've had parents walk in at drop off and say that Susie doesn't need a nap today. There is no such thing as "no nap" here. The one hour rest time is the minimum requirement and if they fall asleep, they fall asleep. I consider myself generous enough for giving up part of MY ONLY BREAK during the day. There is no way I can prevent a child from falling asleep if they are so inclined that day BUT I have offered that parents may send their child with a backpack with toys for them to play with QUIETLY on their cot and sometimes that helps to keep them awake, sometimes it doesn't.

[MonkeyPrincess]

Do you have a copy of their separation agreement?

For split families I would be very particular in noting who paid every payday. I would write out one receipt for the child and at the bottom split it up showing who paid what amount. Give them each a copy (noting on the receipt that both parents provided receipt). Then leave it to them to fight out who claims what. You would have covered everything on the receipt.


As for nap it is not negotiable here for any child under 4. I would have just told the dad all kids are required to nap. I would have then ignored any other texts about other children in your care.
None of his business.

-I don't have a separation agreement, as it stands, I only ever see one parent.

-Thanks. The contract is only in the dad's name, I only see one parent so i am only paid by one parent. It simplifies things a lot. Next year's taxes will be easier lol

-yeah i should have just ignored it, because true, none of his beeswax.... but i did tell him that all kids follow the same routine and all kids go down for a nap after lunch, so i hope he gets that it is what it is and its not up for debate. If he brings it up again, i will most definitely remind him that it's in the contract that he agreed to. My contract says all preschoolers nap, non negotiable. If they wake early, they can come down and play quietly or watch a show.