Napping in Nature

For programs in the midst of winter weather, this idea may seem a bit far out, but teachers at the Ruth Staples Child Development Laboratory in Lincoln, Nebraska, experimented with nap-time outdoors, and reported about their experience in Growing With Nature: Supporting Whole-Child Learning in Outdoor Classrooms (which is included in our "Holiday Gift Guide"):

"Student teachers were skeptical when lab faculty proposed and experiment outside when the weather was mild.  They later reflected that children were calm, and that even children who did not sleep were relaxed as they listened to the breeze moving through leaves overhead.  For example, one child, Sonora, stated, 'When we sleep outside it is better because the wind blows me to sleep.'  Teachers also reported feeling more relaxed in the outdoor setting.  They were less anxious that children who were not sleeping would disturb others."

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