Pre-school and Naptime

I don't know if it's the same every where, but in WI it's a regulation that kids at DC or preschool must nap/rest until they are 4.

Kids don't have to fall asleep and often don't. My son is 3 1/2 and now it's more a 'rest' then a nap. As long as the kids are quiet some sleep, some don't.

Be patient-with the seasons changing and it getting dark earlier plus just the extra energy he'll expend at preschool he'll probably adjust to an earlier bedtime fairly quickly, especially if he doesn't actually nap at 'rest time".

You may talk to them about limiting his nap time to just and hour. I doubt that they will agree to not having him lay down at all. But I'm sure he's not the only little one who has trouble with night sleep when taking a long afternoon nap at this age.

He probably will still need a short nap anyway since preschool will be more/different stimulation for him.

good luck!

You can ask if he can read, etc. but if the room is quiet, he just might fall asleep.

You probably need to change is bedtime routine. PJs, book and then lights out with some quiet music might work well. But if you keep the lights on, he will not be able to fall asleep. Start the bedtime routine tonight at around 9:30 and gradually work back to 8:00. Also, some good old running around after dinner might help, too!

Texas also mandates nap/quiet time. If the kids are in preschool more than 4 1/2 hour days, the schools are required to offer the kids a nap time.

We found a preschool that only had the kids for 4/12 hours at a time, for that very reason.

I would ask, but I also would wait and see if his new schedule will work for him.

If he gets up at 7 am.. and they have him nap from 12:00 to 1:30 and then he plays all afternoon and again at home (active play) outside running around, hopping, jumping etc.. And then a really good quiet bath.. I would think he would eventually get back into the grove of going to sleep at 8:30.

Also at our daughters preschool, they had nap/quiet time. This was because some children just did not fall asleep. as long as they stayed on the mat and kept quiet, they could look at books or play quietly instead on sleeping. Ask if the children are allowed to be awake, but just to be quiet and rest.

I had (have) this same problem. I think it's mandated by the state they have a rest time, so they won't let you cut it out all together. however, he isn't required to nap - rather just be quiet.

This still leaves my almost 4 year old up until late too... I don't know a way around it, and I think the care providers aren't interested in excluding the nap - since this is their time.

I feel for you!

I agree with the poster below that said he may start needing the nap/rest time with the additional stimulation of preschool. And the teacher MAY allow him to take a book or something to the mat with him, but I would bet only if they already allow students to do that. Think about the agony a teacher would face because ALL students would be demanding that they should be able to take a book to the mat with them (and I wouldn't even try the Leapster/handheld game with headphones route - I can't even imagine the uproar of "unfair" cries with the kids that would cause!). Good luck!

What time would he normally wake up if he's up till 11? Perhaps after a few days or a week he will adjust. If he's really tired, he should pop off before 11.
Good luck!

I taught kindergarten and nap time is always a struggle. Some kids need it and others don't. It is almost impossible for the teacher to have some kids resting while others are playing. I always let my kids take books with them to their mats. That way if they didn't want to sleep they could read quietly. It was also a privilege not a right, so if one of the students couldn't read quietly then they were not allowed to take their books with them. Maybe you could ask the teacher if that could be an option and give her the option of taking the privilege away if need be. Good luck.

in nyc all kids have nap time lay on mats quitely dont have to sleep

It is required by almost every state that kids under 5 years old must take a nap for at least an hour per day or they can loose their child care ability. Pre-schools fall under child care regulations due to not being required classes in elementary schools. They must take a nap. He needs to get up earlier and still lay down about the same time. Other choices are for you to go pick him up at noon, after lunch.

Is this full day preschool? Full day programs usually have nap time/quiet time. The teachers can't make kids fall asleep, can't keep them from falling asleep either. Half day preschool, typically no nap time. I declined to have my daughter attend a certain preschool when she was three because they had the nap and the last thing I needed was for her to be napping and not in bed at 8:00. You may prefer no nap, but it's typical to have for full day preschool. Some things cannot be done on an individual basis.

I do not believe you are the only one who wants this. I think they have a teacher in another class that may watch him during nap times. I had this problem to. I do let him take the naps, however now I make sure after dinner we go out for 30 minutes so he can get it all out. :) After his bath he is ready for bed. He maybe stays up in bed for 15 minutes. When I check on him, he is out like a light. :)

It would be better if you would invest in a leapster or a ds with some nice headphones and ask for him to be allowed to play with this on his nap mat so long as he does not laugh and hoop and holler at the games. Nap time is very important to get that many kids through the day. I try over and over to find the preschoolers enough to do in the afternoon. But after awhile they are simply bored and tired and won't admit it. They come to me every few minutes wanting something else to do. When that happens they forget themselves, use loud voices and I don't get even a minute to myself to think or sit or even just stare at the wall. I almost always end up making them lay down and if they are tired, they will sleep.

There is no way that he's going to be a perfect angel for everyone all the time. Either they will have to budge or you will.