I agree, Laurie and Casey, an emergency is going to be difficult no matter what.
My daughter was miserable when she was forced to keep her shoes on during nap in her daycare. I'm sure her teachers had their hands full enforcing this rule, her feet ran hot and she was having none of it.
I faced the same issue as a teacher. I instituted a stop gap solution: in the hall, midway between the 2 exits, I placed a large handled basket. I put a copy of all our emergency forms, contact info, etc. in it and spare shoes for all the students. We invested in 2 sizes of cheap fake crocs: different colors to denote each size, pairs rubber banded together.
This worked because a teacher needs to be tasked with grabbing the emergency forms anyway, so they could as well grab the basket. When we had an actual emergency, of course it was scary and difficult, and of course the students had to leave in their socks. However once we reached the meeting point, we were able to get them all into the temporary shoes and continue on to our shelter location a block away.
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Karen Lefkovitz
Independent Consultant
Philadelphia PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2021 02:55 PM
From: Laurie Rouder
Subject: Wearing shoes during nap
That was my take on it also.
if it's an emergency- you just go!
im curious if it's a regulation anywhere???
thanks everyone for sharing
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Laurie Rouder
NY Early Childhood PDI
Valley Stream NY
Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2021 02:26 PM
From: Casey Lalonde
Subject: Wearing shoes during nap
This is a helpful perspective. I am in Washington state and we do allow children to take their shoes off at rest time - we've had fire drills in the rain and the worst that happens is that their socks are wet, along with their hair and everything else since they don't have their jackets on either!
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Casey Lalonde
Director
The Evergreen State College
Olympia WA
Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2021 10:50 AM
From: Jamie Allen
Subject: Wearing shoes during nap
I have worked at many different centers and most kept them on during nap. Children can adapt to many things, most children I have seen don't have a pillow for nap either and that seem uncomfortable to me too. I think as adults that's our own bias. For safety reasons you should have them on at all time unless its a special project/event and the children are awake. Its a mad house when children are woken up from nap because they are scared and startled and to try to get shoes on can be very dangerous. Here is Utah it could be 100 degrees and the children would have to walk to their safe place which could be half a mile away and they would burn their feet or step on glass etc.
Best of luck on your decision.
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Jamie Allen
Early Childhood Specialist
Care About Childcare
Salt Lake Cty UT
Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2021 08:38 AM
From: Laurie Rouder
Subject: Wearing shoes during nap
Hi all
i am a director in NYC
im trying to find if it's regulation or common practice-can children take their shoes off during nap time? Any guidance is appreciated.
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Laurie Rouder
NY Early Childhood PDI
Valley Stream NY
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