Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Preschool Naps

    Posted 06-13-2018 02:29 PM
    Hello,
    As the rest requirements vary state to state, we've had a bit of difficulty with children in the 4-5 year old classr. Most children do not want/ need naps and with an increase of enrolled students it's been more challenging to help the one who do nap. I believe MA regulations state children must "rest" for 45 minutes, then may have a quiet activity. However when our NAEYC visits and more than half the students are awake will this be a problem? Usually there is an open table for the "non sleepers" for coloring. What do other centers do with their older preschool room at "nap"?

    thanks for any tips

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    Suzanne
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  • 2.  RE: Preschool Naps

    Posted 06-14-2018 03:12 AM
    Aloha! I'm a Pre-K (4/5's) teacher and being that we just ended our school year, we are now using these summer months (June/July) as our Kindergarten Camp curriculum in which we use these months to help prepare our Pre-K graduates for Kindergarten. 

    During these two months we practice a similar Kindergarten schedule (which includes a shortened nap time to just 45 minutes) in comparison to our regular 2-hour nap. With this change in our schedule, our older prek children enjoy a second outdoor play after lunch. They enjoy this extended period of play for about 45-minutes. And then return back to our classroom for nap or quiet activities. By then they're a bit tired and enjoy their nap during the last hour before an afternoon snack at 2:30.

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    Jodi Yamasaki
    KCAA Preschools of Hawaii
    Honolulu HI
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  • 3.  RE: Preschool Naps

    Posted 06-14-2018 11:14 AM
    We had the same issues with nap time a couple of years ago. Books on tape helped we kept the volume low enough so if they wanted to hear the story then they had to be quiet to hear. There were a few that didn't nap, and so they were allowed to do quiet table activities. Just one idea anyway.

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    Tammy Lyon
    Pillsbury Early Education Center
    Minneapolis MN
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  • 4.  RE: Preschool Naps

    Posted 06-14-2018 02:08 PM
    Hello
    Children not wanting to nap at this point of the year is developmentally appropriate. They should be provided with a 'quiet' activity not disturb those children who do nap. People that understand children's developmental milestones will be aware of this when they conduct their walkthroughs.


  • 5.  RE: Preschool Naps

    Posted 06-15-2018 05:52 AM
    Hi there,
    I am in the UK and really interested in this subject!  We used to run
    morning and afternoon sessions, then added a Lunch Club and
    this year about 80% of our three-year-olds stay with us from
    8:45 AM to 3:15 PM.  No nap time is included, however, a member
    of staff will usually set up a quiet reading corner and read aloud
    to the more tired of the children...is this unusual in the USA?
    Thank you!
    Anna

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    Anna Sherman
    Student
    Open University
    Bristol
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  • 6.  RE: Preschool Naps

    Posted 06-16-2018 11:49 AM
    I'm in Florida, and we have a state-sponsored Voluntary Pre-k Program that has a specific nap time of 45 minutes.  The children are in school from 8:00-2:30, including a free breakfast and lunch time.  Almost every child sleeps the entire time for the entire year.  The time also allows for our assistants and teachers to have a break/planning period.  I hope this helps!

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    Daniel Bennett
    Pre-K Teacher
    Brevard Public Schools
    Cocoa FL
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