They have 2 books and a small plush toy at their cots.

Audio books are played.

After a set amount of time they can get up a go to a table with quiet activities.

This is the reason we pulled out of daycare at almost 4. It’s insane to ask a child to lay quietly on a cot in a dark room and not fall asleep. The 10pm ans later bedtimes were killing me. We switched our schedules a bit and got a babysitter.

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old doesn’t nap on the weekends. Our daycare has told us that children can play quietly on their cots if they don’t want to nap. I think he is being encouraged to nap. I understand that the teachers need this break time. Bedtime is taking two hours most nights when he naps at daycare. Is there any other options than just play with a toy? It might be good to have some other suggestions to give the teacher or director for kids who don’t need to nap. Does your center have a different approach?

How many hours does he sleep at night on the weekends?

Sitting quietly while the other children nap is not a bad thing, and doesn't make them less likely to fall asleep later. Kids need quiet down time, even if they do not nap.

30 minutes of quiet time, followed by quietly coloring or reading books.

Anonymous wrote:Keep him home or do actual school not daycare.

On behalf of the OP and women who WOH everywhere, thank you for this precious nugget of wisdom

Keep him home or do actual school not daycare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old doesn’t nap on the weekends. Our daycare has told us that children can play quietly on their cots if they don’t want to nap. I think he is being encouraged to nap. I understand that the teachers need this break time. Bedtime is taking two hours most nights when he naps at daycare. Is there any other options than just play with a toy? It might be good to have some other suggestions to give the teacher or director for kids who don’t need to nap. Does your center have a different approach?

Nope this is it. My son needs to be quiet for 30 minutes for everyone else to fall asleep and then he is given a bag that I send from home with fresh toys such as books, puzzles, alpha-bots, matching cards, etc. They say they give them books but a book isnt enough to sit for 1.5 hours. When my son naps he cannot fall asleep until 10/1030 and thats after my bedtime!

It is a very difficult phase. Try to talk with the lead teacher or director and ask if you can either send a bag of nap supplies (QUIET toys) or if he can be allowed to color/puzzles/etc on a table away from other kids sleeping.

NP, but thanks for this feedback! My 2yo is in a weird phase where she probably should nap (she's a little overtired when she doesn't, which is every weekend) but she also WON'T go to bed before 9 is she does nap and I'm getting exhausted. I'm not going to push it now but when she moves up to the 3s room, I want her to stop napping at daycare as well because the slightly fussy/tired at dinner and early bedtime is actually MUCH easier for me to manage than the late bedtime.

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old doesn’t nap on the weekends. Our daycare has told us that children can play quietly on their cots if they don’t want to nap. I think he is being encouraged to nap. I understand that the teachers need this break time. Bedtime is taking two hours most nights when he naps at daycare. Is there any other options than just play with a toy? It might be good to have some other suggestions to give the teacher or director for kids who don’t need to nap. Does your center have a different approach?

Let me add that there is NOTHING is COMAR (MD regulations) that require children to nap.

".03 Rest Periods.
Each child shall be provided periods of rest appropriate to the age, needs, and activities of
the child.
INTENT: For proper development and growth, children must be given regular,
adequate rest periods.
INSPECTION REPORT ITEM: “Rest Periods”
COMPLIANCE CRITERIA: Each child is provided appropriate rest periods.
ASSESSMENT METHOD: Observation of rest periods. If observation is not possible,
discussion to determine the program’s rest schedules.
Note: There is no requirement that children must rest or nap for a specific
length of time. The length of time that children nap or rest must be appropriate to
their individual needs. However, based on general developmental characteristics,
you may wish to use the following suggested nap/rest timeframes for planning your
daily program.
 0 – 2 years old - Morning and afternoon naps for 1 to 3 hours
 2 – 4 years old - Afternoon nap for 1½ – 3 hours
 5 – 6 years old - Afternoon rest – quiet activities for 30 minutes to one hour"

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old doesn’t nap on the weekends. Our daycare has told us that children can play quietly on their cots if they don’t want to nap. I think he is being encouraged to nap. I understand that the teachers need this break time. Bedtime is taking two hours most nights when he naps at daycare. Is there any other options than just play with a toy? It might be good to have some other suggestions to give the teacher or director for kids who don’t need to nap. Does your center have a different approach?

Nope this is it. My son needs to be quiet for 30 minutes for everyone else to fall asleep and then he is given a bag that I send from home with fresh toys such as books, puzzles, alpha-bots, matching cards, etc. They say they give them books but a book isnt enough to sit for 1.5 hours. When my son naps he cannot fall asleep until 10/1030 and thats after my bedtime!

It is a very difficult phase. Try to talk with the lead teacher or director and ask if you can either send a bag of nap supplies (QUIET toys) or if he can be allowed to color/puzzles/etc on a table away from other kids sleeping.

My 4 year old doesn’t nap on the weekends. Our daycare has told us that children can play quietly on their cots if they don’t want to nap. I think he is being encouraged to nap. I understand that the teachers need this break time. Bedtime is taking two hours most nights when he naps at daycare. Is there any other options than just play with a toy? It might be good to have some other suggestions to give the teacher or director for kids who don’t need to nap. Does your center have a different approach?