Any schools that don't require PK4 kids to nap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is not napping or able to be calm for that time are you sure an high-intensity language immersion is the right choice for your son? I know that sounds snarky, but I speak from (bad) experience.

I have to disagree. I don't think language immersion and ability to be quiet for 90 minutes are mutually exclusive. I have an energetic child who has attended two language immersion schools. She did poorly at one (naps required, no alternatives offered), and thrived in another (no naps). I think it's more an issue of how classroom management on this issue colors the child's experience with school.

[Anonymous]

I'm of the belief if your snowflake can't follow the rules in their PK3 or PK4 classroom, you should keep them home until kindergarten. ECE in DC is a luxury, not a requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beat in mind if you have a mixed age class they may not be as flexible. My daughter is in a 3s and 4s class at Bridges and nap is 90 minutes. They have forced her to stay in a dark classroom on a mat all year, including punishing her for not being quiet. It's been awful, and she often cries about going to school because she hates nap time so much. T

This is awful, and I feel terrible for your child. But it's not a uniform experience at Bridges. My kid has never napped a day in her two years at Bridges, but her teacher has always allowed her to read or listen to a book on tape during nap time, as long as she does not disturb the other kids. Her classroom is not pitch-black during nap time, so it works.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why you think a child not sleeping for 90 minutes a day nap has anything to do with success at a school?
My child is highly verbal and advanced for his age (not trying to be snarky, either) - his mind is very active and looking for learning experiences all day - he is fine if he can look at books, but his school will not allow it. He has a great focus and attention, but does not like to to sleep or be forced to lie down flat and not speak for 90 minutes. One friend told me once wisely that there are three things you can not force kids to do: eat, sleep or go to the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

So many snowflakes... so little time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am mostly interested in Creative Minds. Do they make the non nappers lay down? If not, what do they do? Thanks!

When my kid was in pk4 she got a book or some "quiet toys". She hadn't napped since 2.5.

[Anonymous]

I love the smug parents who think napping has anything to do with following rules or being a "special snowflake." You obviously have a child that naps, and that's nice. But the other parents of kids who don't nap aren't being precious. Some kids actually need less sleep than others. You didn't sit still and do nothing for 90 minutes at 4 years old, either. Get off your high horse and give other parents a break.

[Anonymous]

Also keep in mind that for kids with October birthdays, they are being asked to nap when they are >5.5 years. If these kids lived in other states they'd be in K and not napping at all.

I give my Oct bday kid sticker books and coloring books to use during nap time and that works ok after some negotiation with their teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the smug parents who think napping has anything to do with following rules or being a "special snowflake." You obviously have a child that naps, and that's nice. But the other parents of kids who don't nap aren't being precious. Some kids actually need less sleep than others. You didn't sit still and do nothing for 90 minutes at 4 years old, either. Get off your high horse and give other parents a break.

That's nice, PP. My DD stopped napping at home when she was 3.5, and her school has been flexible about nap time. Some kids, despite not needing naps themselves, are also not able to be quiet and let OTHER kids sleep in school at that age. I have noticed that many parents do not recognize this - either because they are jerks or because they never experience situations where their child's non-napping affects the sleep of another child. I think that schools need to be more understanding and come up with other activities for kids who don't need that nap, but there are a lot of priorities in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

PK is optional. If your DC can't adjust to the schedule - for whatever reason - don't send them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm of the belief if your snowflake can't follow the rules in their PK3 or PK4 classroom, you should keep them home until kindergarten. ECE in DC is a luxury, not a requirement.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also keep in mind that for kids with October birthdays, they are being asked to nap when they are >5.5 years. If these kids lived in other states they'd be in K and not napping at all.

I give my Oct bday kid sticker books and coloring books to use during nap time and that works ok after some negotiation with their teachers.

Which state exactly? Given that the Sept us about the latest cutoff tHese days?

[Anonymous]

CT's cut of is Dec 31.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the smug parents who think napping has anything to do with following rules or being a "special snowflake." You obviously have a child that naps, and that's nice. But the other parents of kids who don't nap aren't being precious. Some kids actually need less sleep than others. You didn't sit still and do nothing for 90 minutes at 4 years old, either. Get off your high horse and give other parents a break.

That's nice, PP. My DD stopped napping at home when she was 3.5, and her school has been flexible about nap time. Some kids, despite not needing naps themselves, are also not able to be quiet and let OTHER kids sleep in school at that age. I have noticed that many parents do not recognize this - either because they are jerks or because they never experience situations where their child's non-napping affects the sleep of another child. I think that schools need to be more understanding and come up with other activities for kids who don't need that nap, but there are a lot of priorities in the classroom.

I don't disagree with you that non-mappers need to let mappers sleep, but there are schools in this city that actually accommodate mappers and non-nappers, while others refuse to even let kids do quiet activities, and insist that all kids lay on their mats and do nothing for 90 minutes. I find this ridiculous. Both napping and non-napping are within the scope of developmentally normal behavior at 4 years old. One shouldn't take precedence over the other--and the expectation that normal behavior should be accepted in the classroom doesn't make me have unreasonable expectations

[Anonymous]

When we toured YY they said that they pair classrooms together at nap time and nappers go in one room and non nappers in the other. I wish more schools did this!

Honestly the best think would probably just be to have preschools end at 2pm and then napping could happen at home. But obviously logistics of that are too hard.