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Wearing shoes during nap

  • 1.  Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 01-31-2021 08:39 AM
    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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  • 2.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 12:41 AM
    I'm an infant teacher but I've worked in all age groups birth-5. I've always had the understanding that shoes should be worn during nap because of emergency drills- lockdown, fire, catastrophe - as well as real
    life emergencies. Having to put on shoes could be time lost in possible life and death situations. Hope that helps.

    -Sandra, Houston Texas

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    Sandra Johnson
    Preschool teacher
    Kiddie Academy Missouri City
    Houston TX
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  • 3.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 06:39 AM
    Thank you
    That seems to be the common response.  Just seems uncomfortable- and I can't find a regulation.   





  • 4.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 09:27 AM
    Wearing shoes at nap time is also required in Maryland for the same reason.

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    Sonya Sloan Howard
    Odenton MD
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  • 5.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 07:49 AM
    We keep ours on in case there's a fire or fire drill during naptime.

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    Sheri Brown
    Director
    Tikvat Israel ECC
    Rockville MD
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  • 6.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 08:02 AM
    Our toddlers are required to wear shoes at nap time in the event of a fire when they have to get up and get out quickly. It's in our Rules and Regs. We don't have a preschool class. If a child wants to remove shoes, we let them.

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    Susan Smith
    Director
    Heart and Hands Montessori
    Lafayette CO
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  • 7.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 10:44 AM
    Hi Laurie

    i have heard of keeping shoes on during nap for emergencies. In the handful of programs I've worked in (NC and OR) shoes were child choice indoors including nap. In one preschool classroom children had shoes with them at their cot.

    most recently, in my toddler classroom we had a basket we would keep all shoes in that we would grab and take out with us for emergencies/drills and put them on outside.

    -Brit

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    Brittany Lazarek
    Educator
    respect radical
    Portland OR
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  • 8.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 10:50 AM
    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
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  • 9.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-03-2021 02:27 PM
    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
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  • 10.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-03-2021 02:56 PM

    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
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  • 11.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-04-2021 07:01 AM
    Do you have "dress up" shoes that your children can wear when they are playing in the "housekeeping" center?  If there is an emergency during center time, what do you have them wear on their feet outside?  I figure there is not time to change into their own shoes and some of the "dress up" shoes with heels or that are "oversized" are hard to walk in.  Therefore, at nap, I do not think shoes are that necessary for emergencies.

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    Sara Frazier
    Pocahontas AR
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  • 12.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-04-2021 11:53 AM

    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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  • 13.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-01-2021 11:18 AM
    Hi, Laurie,
    It seems strange to have children sleep in shoes, doesn't it? but the fire concern is a real one. Here's an idea that works or some programs - have them sleep in slippers instead (ones with waterproof soles). More comfortable, inexpensive.
    Good luck and thanks for all you do!

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    Hazel Osborn
    Consultant
    Loveland CO
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  • 14.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-02-2021 10:10 AM
    We do not have a Rule about it in MN.  We do require toddlers and up to keep their shoes on for emergencies.  An infant would go out in the evacuation cribs so they do not have to have shoes on.

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    Brandy Sroga-Coons
    Creative Kids Academy
    Elk River MN
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  • 15.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-02-2021 06:34 PM
    In Maryland, we implement wearing shoes during naptime. This is so in case of an emergency, they are always ready to evacuate.

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    Aisha Arif
    Columbia MD
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  • 16.  RE: Wearing shoes during nap

    Posted 02-03-2021 09:38 AM
    I do not think there is any law guiding wearing shoes at nap time for children at the day care. It is very important for children to leave their shoes on at nap time . If there is emergency to quit the building there will be no time to be putting on shoes for children and we do not want them to walk barefooted outside of the building. Although snow boots might not be comfortable to nap with. We should instill in the children the habit of keeping their shoes on all the time they are in the daycare for safety. Thank you

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    Doris Lawson
    Saint Paul MN
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