Naptime..too Long???

That does seem a bit long...maybe they say 12-3 and that is for the ones that do not fall asleep quickly, but it is a very long time at that age I think not to mention he may not go to sleep at night because of this...definately talk to them you never know.

Three hours seems too long, unless it also includes "quiet time" and they don't actually nap until 1 or so. Most kids need a little time to wind down before nap. At my daycare we end lunch at 12:15/ 12:30, brush teeth, change diapers or potty and read stories. Nap is usually 1:15-3pm/3:15. Some kids want to sleep earlier and some will stay asleep longer, but 2 hours seems standard and adequate especially for 3 years old.

I'd ask to look at a schedule of their day and get more specifics about what nap time includes.

Good luck~

hi!

I work for a private daycare/preschool and we do nap time from 12:30-2:30, per licencing regulations. The licencing will cary from state to state, but are generally similar. For us we do lunch from 11:20-12:15. Some kids eat quicker and we usually start doing potty/diapers as they finish. all kids MUST be on their cots by 12:30 (unless they are on the potty of course!). We start at 2:30/2:40 by turning on the lights and changing/putting the cots away with the kids that are awake and then gently wake those that are still sleeping 1 or 2 at a time. It is easier to do one or two as some kids need a little more cuddling when they get woke up. depending on the size of the class (8-12 kids per 1 teacher) some kids will get to sleep until 3 ish, but they are usually the ones that didnt fall asleep right away.

I would just ask them for a copy of the daily schedule. There should be a copy posted in the classroom as well!

Hope that helps a little!

L.

That does seem like a very long time for a 3 year old to be asked to lay still. I would think it would be 2 hours at most and then let the kids who are still sleeping sleep. I would maybe inquire with the daycare staff as to what they do during this time, hopefully they aren't using it as a way to just get down time by making the kids lay down for so long.

I agree with Abby. 3 hours sounds too long to expect a 3 yr old to stay still. I'd be concerned, esp if you are paying MORE for this place compared to other places.

Something else (I dont know how daycares/schools work): Show up at 2:00 and see what is going on. Or talk to another mom when you guys are all there picking up your kids. Get their opinions too.

First, call them and address this question with them. Ask for a classroom schedule. Then, you could stay with him the first day, to really see what happens. I stayed w/ my first daughter the whole day on her first day of daycare. At our daycare the naptime is 2 hours. 3 hours does seem a bit long, so your questions/concerns are definitely valid. Remember - you are paying them, so you have every right to request a class schedule, stay w/ him to see how they do things, etc...

Good luck

I have a 4-year-old in VPK and a 2-year-old in "transition". Both classrooms have a 3 hours naptime. I think it's normal. But then again, my kids take a 3 hour nap at home usually anyway.

3 hours is a really long time for nap/quiet time. I don't like my two year old to nap that long. Just think how wound up he'd be when he gets home. I know a lot of three year olds that no longer nap. To ask them to sit quietly for three hours seems almost cruel.
Plus, you're right, they should be learning, not sleeping. I'm sorry to say, I would definitely reconsider the school. I tempted to think the teachers are lazy.
Good luck

A 3 hour nap?? That is way too long. Tell them to wake him after 1.5 -2 hours. He can play nearby or send him to another room with bigger kids that don't nap. No way would I pay for them to have a 3 hour break in the middle of the day! You don't need problems getting him down at night because he spent his active hours sleeping.............

Ok, I feel the need to answer this question in defense of the preschool teachers/ daycare. (I will say that I have NOT been really impressed by many of the preschools here in the state of Florida, but in general this is an answer to the nap time question)
I had a liscenced home daycare/ preschool in Massachusetts for 11 years, and I taught at an upscale preschool for several years as well. The 3 hour naptime is most likely the time that they allow on their schedule for EVERYTHING, after lunchtime, from cleaninig up tables, washiing up the kids, brushing teeth, changing diapers or using the potty, getting cots/ napmats set up, (which hopefully was done while the kids were eating), and reading a story or 2 to help settle the kids down for their rest time. Also, they probably have an area set up for the kids who don't "sleep" where they can lay quietly and read or watch a video. Most of the time, there are children who require a teacher to sit next to them while they fall asleep to quietly and gently rub or pat their back , and calm them for a few minutes to help them settle. Now, do this several times over with however many kids are in the classroom, and there is most likely the better part of your first hour with the clean up and prep time. The teacher will keep track of who fell asleep first, and will be sure to wake that child first if they don't wake up themself. This again is a process, lilghts on, gently going around the room and touching their backs to wake them, etc. Some of the kids may need a little tlc or cuddle time, depending on how they wake up. Also, the diaper changes and potty trips are going to happen at this time again. Trust me, as a provider... YES we do need this "down time" at this point of the day. It's NOT because we are lazy or because we don't want to interact with your child anymore. We are usually spending that time doing paperwork, like your daily report for you to take at the end of the day, etc. Also, it is sometimes the only time of the day when we get to eat OUR lunch or have a few minutes peace. We still do not really get a "break" because we are with your child while they are sleeping. Law states that we have to be. Not like at home, when you can run to the garage to throw in the laundry. We must be in the room. Another thiing to consider is this..... your child may not seem tired enough to nap at home, but do they play with as many children at home, or have the same hectic schedule while at home? I seriously doubt it. I have had several parents over the years who have told me "oh, MY child has not taken a nap in years! He/ She will NEVER sleep in a room with all of those other kids." I had a tough time controlling myself at pick up when I had to let them know that their child was the first asleep, and the hardest to wake up. It really can make a child tired, more so than usual. They play hard, WORK h*** o* learning, and get overstimulated. The nap/ rest time is for them to recharge. Without it, you would not like they way your child would act at the end of the day! I have never had a parent complain and tell me that their child wasn't sleeping at night because of their taking naps at my daycare, and I had ALL of my kids take naps. They ALL slept, even the 5 and 6 yr olds. I never told them they had to sleep, just to take a quiet time. They fell asleep on their own. I also have never had an unhappy parent or child. I still stay in contact with all of my "kids" some who are out of high school at this point, and it's wonderful to talk to them when they call or get cards when they write. They loved coming to my daycare/ preschool, and were never upset by the nap/ rest time, so please don't let that be the thing that makes up your mind if the school is great in every other way. I had kids whoo cried when it was time to GO HOME. Most of my parents were ok with this, and even said they would rather that they were upset to leave, than upset to be left there. At least they knew they were happy and well cared for. I thought it was a loving thing to say. (one that I wasn't sure I would have been able to say myself if it had been my child) If you are really worried, talk to the preschool more, the other parents, and stop by to check things out. Please be prepared though, that if you stop by DURING naptime (with your child who is awake I mean), you may not be the favorite parent of the preschool/ daycare teachers. They just want to do their job and do it well. (teach your child and care for your child.) I really hope that you get the answers that you are looking for and need and find the best care for your child. That is what is most important for you and your child. Good luck!

That's really long, especially for a 3 year old. I've had my son in two daycares, and at both, they started one nap/day @ a year, and it was from 11:30-1:30. My son is now 2.5 yrs old, and will usually sleep about 1.5 hrs, although the nap time "range" is the same. I would definitely speak to them about it. Sounds like teacher break time to me.

One reason we put our son in "school" half days at that age was because we couldn't see paying for naps. And if they are "forced" to lie still and quiet on a mat for 3 hours if they don't sleep it won't be a whole lot of fun for him.

But in hindsight (my DS and I were just talking about this last night) we wish we hadn't put him in "school" at that age at all.

Examine your reasons for putting him in school. If it's to "socialize" him, it's probably the wrong reason. You may think he "likes" it, but that's because you were there with him and I bet he thinks either you'll stay with him or he can leave when he wants to.

We're all so conditioned to assume the "school" is the best thing for our little ones, and then we wonder why we have such confused and disconnected people in our society.

Sorry to get heavy about it, but it sounds like you may be able to keep him home with you, and if you can, do it. You won't regret it and neither will he.

Google unschooling or natural learning for some fresh (though not new) perspectives.

Good luck!

--M.