Anonymous wrote:Mine stopped naturally around early five but others in their group continued on all the way up through PreK "graduation" at the end of June. I don't understand why they want your child to drop the nap. That's usually the time they get things done.

Op here. It is a Montessori program and thus there are older kids doing work in the afternoon. Also I should clarify that school has been flexible and open to dialogue ultimately allowing us to make the decision. They also did give some insights regarding the fact that they would like DC to get involved in afternoon bigger "works" and such. I understand, but think I still stand solidly in the nap stays camp.

Thank you everyone. This helps me feel solid in the decision to request the nap stays.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry didn’t fully answer the question. Personally I would push back on school and have him keep napping. There is some decent research that important things happen for learning during naptime and kids take them when they still need them because they need that time for their brain to kind of process what they learned.

Recent article in the post about the importance of napping for kids. It starts out talking about newborns but if you keep reading it gets to older kids and dropping naps

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/05/sleeping-babies-brains/

Between 3 and 6, according to the article, is when kids don’t need the nap. It’s so kid dependent. Clearly OP’s 4 yr old still needs it. And clearly the 2.5 yr old above doesn’t. It all has to do with brain development.

DS dropped his afternoon nap around 2.5. He was home with his nanny and just stopped sleeping at nap time although he would read in his crib for the duration for awhile.

It all depends on the kid.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry didn’t fully answer the question. Personally I would push back on school and have him keep napping. There is some decent research that important things happen for learning during naptime and kids take them when they still need them because they need that time for their brain to kind of process what they learned.

Recent article in the post about the importance of napping for kids. It starts out talking about newborns but if you keep reading it gets to older kids and dropping naps

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/05/sleeping-babies-brains/

Sorry didn’t fully answer the question. Personally I would push back on school and have him keep napping. There is some decent research that important things happen for learning during naptime and kids take them when they still need them because they need that time for their brain to kind of process what they learned.

I’m surprised they are pushing it, I usually hear parents say the opposite that school won’t let them drop it. Mine is newly 4 and still naps at school most days. He falls asleep a little later those nights which is fine. For some reason at home though he doesn’t take his nap anymore. We always still do quiet time and on days when we’ve had a busy morning we’ll encourage him to rest in bed but he just doesn’t fall asleep. I’m assuming school is just that much more stimulating he still needs it there. On weekends he goes to bed at 6:30/7 since he misses his nap. Works pretty well for us.

Mine stopped naturally around early five but others in their group continued on all the way up through PreK "graduation" at the end of June. I don't understand why they want your child to drop the nap. That's usually the time they get things done.

OP here. Yea, fair enough. I am just wondering why school is pushing so hard to have DC to drop and second guessing my decision to continue it. I don't mind having DC go to sleep at 8.30/9 as I go to sleep then anyway. :p

Thanks pp!

We dropped it gradually at 4.5 (last month) because it was starting to interfere with nighttime sleep and she was getting cranky after nap. If your DC is fine I see no reason to drop it. Personally I think many parents make their kids drop it too early so they’ll go to bed earlier.

Background: PreK is asking for 4 year old (Nov) bday to drop their nap. DC still falls asleep every day and naps on the weekend most days. Should we have DC drop it or keep napping? It does not appear to interfere with nighttime sleep.

When did your kid drop their nap altogether?