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Naptime Tips
July 2, 2012
When you learn, teach. When you get, give.
-Maya Angelou
-Maya Angelou
- Always give the children a ‘heads up’ when naptime is approaching. Keep your pre-nap routine consistent and your class will start mentally preparing for a rest before they even hit their cots.
- Keep children’s cots in the same basic location each day. Once you find a spot where a child is most likely to get a good rest, use that spot consistently. Having to adjust to a new spot or a new ‘nap neighbor’ can make it difficult for a child to settle down.
- Allow children a few minutes on their cots before the lights are turned out. This allows children to transition from being very active to being very still. Your center might provide nap books or simple manipulative toys for children to explore independently for 5 minutes.
- Teachers are instrumental in establishing a calm mood in the classroom at naptime. Once the teacher dims the lights she should lower her voice and keep it at just above a whisper for the duration of naptime.
- In continuing with this slow transition to rest time, it’s a good idea to put on a short audio story for children to listen to once the lights are dim. This allows the teacher to gather naptime books and tuck each child in to give them a nurturing send-off to rest time. Make sure each child has something from home to cuddle.
Twelve popular Exchange Out of the Box Training Kits focusing on center routines and policies are on sale this week at a 40% discount (downloadable PDF versions only). Choose from:- Naptime Routines
- Exclusion of Children with Fevers from Child Care
- Reality Bites: Biting at the Center
- Eliminating Transitions = Eliminating Chaos
- Who Needs the Mess: Family Style Meals
- Becoming a Sun Safe Center
- SIDS: Saving Babies in our Communities
- Making Families Welcome
- Belonging: Including Children of Gay and Lesbian Parents
- Docia Shares a Story about Rules
- Breastfeeding Promotion
- Maintaining an Hygenic Environment
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Comments (1)
Displaying 1 CommentUnited States
Any music being played should be played quietly. If the music is loud (in an attempt to camoflouge the noise of the children's talking) the children will just talk louder! Create a "sleep environment" with dim lights (not lights out - you want to SEE if a child is struggling to breathe or having a seizure) and soft, soothing music. Teachers should talk only as loud as they want the children to during this time. The teacher sets the noise level by example, no matter what she or he says.
Last suggestion; if the teacher is stressed and starts getting angry with children who won't go to sleep (some don't take naps), the teacher should be given a break and a fresh teacher should replace her. Happy napping!
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