Children need to have their nap time for them to rest and develop. Every daycare has naptime, but what if a parent has other ideas about how you schedule naptime in your daycare? A daycare owner asked, “How do you respond if a parent requests that their child (preschooler) not nap or be woken up after 1 hour?” We asked the fans of OwnADaycare on Facebook who are daycare owners for their suggestions. Here are some of the best responses: For tips on crying during naptime, see: Why Children Cry during Naptime
- I do not do this. It interrupts everyone else’s nap time. And as a provider that opens at 5am and closes at 6pm. Nap time is the only break during a long 14 hour day.
- Here in California WE ARE NOT ALLOWED to keep a child awake or wake them up – it violates their personal rights and could be a Personal Rights Violation from licensing. So my response to that parent is “I’m sorry but according to licensing regulations I cannot do that.”
- You need to be honest! Let them know that nap time is and all children will lay down at this time. Let them know that your child does not have to sleep during this time but this is quiet time and nap time. This parent probably would not like me because I don’t wake children up I let them sleep until they wake up. My theory is they must be tired if they sleep over the two hours that I have set. Don’t let parents dictate your rules! If you do every parent will be making unnecessary request!
- I explain that nap/rest time is the same for everyone and it would be disruptive to the whole group if one child had a shorter naptime. The only time I would make an exception is when the child is entering kindergarten and they need to transition to having no nap time.
- I tell them if they don’t want them napping, they need to pick them up during nap and can return them when it’s over.
- My kids do not have to nap but they do have to lay down and rest. ALL of my preschoolers fall asleep. In California, we cannot keep a child from sleeping. We can wake them but if they don’t want to get up, we cannot force them. You are taking away a basic need if you keep them from sleeping. I have a scheduled nap time and when that ends I open the blinds, turn on the active music, talk in a normal voice and they usually all wake up.
- No one is allowed to skip nap time. They lay down from 12:00-2:30. They don’t have to sleep (although all do) but they must lay down quietly the entire time.
- No way…tell them to get gone it messes up the flow of things in my daycare they do not have to “nap” but the ones who don’t nap lay down aand read a book or color. they wake up when they wake up and i have a policy parents sign and are aware so they know what they are signing up for no surprises when a future conversation arises
- I tell the parents “We are required by the state to provide rest time, if they fall asleep, I am not going to keep them from it.”
- I let them know we are required for each child to take at least 1 hour of quiet time, if they fall asleep during that time then they take a nap, I am ok with waking the kid up early if needed, but not before 1 hour.
- Everyone lays down here or at least has quiet time for the older ones….most will fall asleep though especially if we have been outside playing all morning
- It is required if the child is there for 5 or more hours that they are given a nap time not to exceed 3 hours. I have been open for 4 years and ALL children NEED their nap. I would say that it is your policy and if they don’t like it then they are free to give their 2 weeks paid notice (or whatever you allow) and find a new provider. It’s in my policy.
- In my daycare, all kids under the age of 4 have to nap. If they’re close to the 4 year old old age, I will cut their nap from two hours down to one hour. 4 year old can take “quiet time” and watch a movie while the other children nap and I get an hour break. Then they play quietly until naptime is over.
- I have a request for a 1 year old to only have a 1 hour nap. Not happening in my care. He lays down the same as the others. If they don’t like it, then hire a nanny that can keep him awake the other 10 hours he’s in my care.
- I have some preschoolers that have outgrown nap and don’t fall asleep anymore, I have them lay down for a half an hour and if they are still awake they can play quietly in another area. I will not wake children up if they are sleeping and I will not agree to do so. I explain to parents that if they are sleeping they need it and there is no correlation between having a nap and going to bed well, in fact often they will go to bed better if they had a nap as they are not overtired. Being overtired is often the problem parents have with getting then to go to bed, well that and just no control as a parent sometime.
- I had a parent with a two year old who wanted me to keep her awake, because she wasn’t falling asleep at night, then I found out that they were trying to lay her down at 7:30 pm. she is at my house from 7 am to 6 pm. Now I have a no wake policy.
- Be clear, direct with them about your daycare’s rules, and your daycare schedule. Nap time, for all of us, is the time we use to do paper work, cleaning, and take a break.
- I honor the request once they are almost 4 years old. Before that I feel that kids are not allowed to swear off naps
- I explain to her that as long as a child does not interrupt the others, it is not a problem. If child wakes others, he/ she will sleep as long as others.
- I have learned over the years it’s the parent that is being controlled by the child who has had a long nap and won’t go to sleep at night. Ask what their routine at home is before bed and see if you can suggest some changes. We as adults need a nap, so if the child is sleeping more than an hour than his/her little mind and body needs it!
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