Originally Posted by Unregistered:
My son, who is almost three, started preschool this past summer. In the 6 months he has attended this school, his nighttime sleep routine has been destroyed.
We start the nighttime routine at 7 pm with getting jammies on, turning down the lights and perhaps watching a quiet show or doing some other relaxing, quiet activity. at 7:30 pm we brush teeth and wash up. Then its reading time and lights out by 8 pm. What happens next is a battle, with Kieran doing everything he can to stay awake and fight sleep. Last night he did not fall asleep until 9:45 pm. We still have to rock him to sleep because no matter what we did when he was younger, he did developed the ability to self-soothe, just like his older brother...but, i digress.
the preschool schedule is this. open at 7 am. Children can bring their breakfast and eat at school from 7 am to 8 am. 8 am to 9:30 is play time. 9:30 to 10 is wind down and get ready to learn time. 10 am to 1130: is education time. 11:30 am to 12 pm is lunch...nap time is supposed to be 12 pm to 2 pm, however, what happens is this: the children lay down at noon, but the director/teachers do not start their "clock" for nap time until the last fidgety child settles down. What tis means is when I pick up my son at 4 pm, he has to be woken up so he can come home. all the other children remain laying down until who knows when. The have my son laying down for over 4 hours. its no wonder he doesn't sleep!
The director feels she is operating within the scope of the law, but I feel it is bordering on abuse/neglect by failing to recognize how this effects the kid's sleep schedule at night, and its also taking advantage of the parents by charging them $175 a week for 1.5 hours of educating, 2-4 hours of play time depending on when they arrive/leave, and a whole lot of sleep/quiet time. I feel she is ripping off the parents and harming the children.
Unfortunately, all of the schools in the area that will take a child who is not completely potty trained are full, so we are stuck until there is an opening. If I were to report the director for this problem, who would I report to, and where would I go to do it? it is not fair to my son to start his nighttime sleep by getting in trouble, nor is it fair to start his day grumpy because he did not get the rest he needs.
On weekends, he has free napping...we do not put him down for a nap. If he is tired, he sleeps and we let him sleep as long as he needs. There are rarely problems getting him to sleep wen he does not go down for a scheduled nap at home on the weekends...
( sorry for the novel, lol)
I see what you're saying, really. But, can you imagine a room full of children, half of whom have been awaken against their will?
Many of my children nap 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day until Kindergarten. But, we live in a rural area, where getting up at 6 or 6:30 in order for parents to get them fed, dressed, to daycare, and themselves to work by 8. They also spend lots of time outdoors with their parents at night; tending to animals, working in the yard, or playing. By the time dinner, baths, and stories are done, it's 8:00. So, They are only sleeping 10 hours at night, and a 3 hour nap is essential.
I have had the occasional 4 year old who doesn't nap all of nap time. They usually stay on their mat (or nearby) and get a "nap basket" of toys and books. I guess the problem with an almost 3 is that they don't yet have any self control. They don't just play quietly while their friends nap. Most will raise their voice, want to move around, pester the caregiver, and generally make it tough for everyone else to sleep.
Maybe you could get him up a little earlier in the am, and start the bedtime routine a little later at night. Also, any electronics right before bed may be sabatoging your efforts. Even a "quiet show" send tons of info to that brain of his. It might just be too stimulating.