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Country Kids 01:44 PM 02-13-2013
I honestly think I am going to go this route.

Insane, I know but I'm starting to think this is what is going to work for this group.

Right now 5 out of 6 are wide awake, talking (even to themselves), whispering, rolling around, getting up and down, and yes some of them are even seperated!

We have been laying down for about an hour. I have kids going to be coming in, in about 10 minutes because of early release day, so its going to just get worse.

So I was thinking of doing this awhile ago but really serious about it. I'm just really stressed through "my quiet time" and can get nothing done because of having to be on top of them.

Going to lay them down for about an hour and then get everyone up to do the rest of our day. Maybe do projects we didn't get done in the morning, outdoor time, things like that.

Sad thing most of these kids are up at 6:00 and a few it takes 1-2 hours after bedtime to go to sleep!
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SilverSabre25 01:57 PM 02-13-2013
Seriously I think that sounds like a good plan for you! One hour of lay down time and then get the heck outside.

Make it a movie day if you can't go out.
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cheerfuldom 02:13 PM 02-13-2013
have you tried moving your nap time later during the day? you might get more napping out of them with that. what ages do you have?
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JLH 02:17 PM 02-13-2013
Maybe you could take them outside, then do lunch, then off to bed. Sometimes being out in the cold and then coming into eat and get warm will help them fall asleep. Otherwise, you are right, it's not worth the fight. lol
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Country Kids 02:19 PM 02-13-2013
Originally Posted by cheerfuldom:
have you tried moving your nap time later during the day? you might get more napping out of them with that. what ages do you have?
3-5 year olds. 4 of them are up by 6 every day if not earlier.

We lay down right after lunch (12:30 and lay down till 3:00). You would think they would be tired by this time but no, they are ready to go for the afternoon.

I have tried earlier, later, black out curtains, seperate rooms, music, outside time, etc. Nothing works!

One of them didn't take a nap one day and fell asleep on the way home till 8:00 the next morning (16 hours). They need to sleep!

This group has been this way since the beginning-non nappers. I have more days of non napping with this group then days of napping. I would say 3 out of 5 days a weeks someone is not taking a nap!
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Country Kids 02:36 PM 02-13-2013
Within the last 10 minutes they all fell asleep and we have 25 minutes till nap is over!

I don't really want to keep kids up till 2:30 everyday and then be trying to wake them up at 3:00 for snack and pickups.

uugghh, why can't the just settle down and sleep?
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Evansmom 03:02 PM 02-13-2013
I have all no nappers right now and I reeeeally miss nap time!!!

But it is nice having a older group though.

This is how I structure the day with my no nappers. Morning is for group activities and out door play if weather permits, if inclement we have a large motor activity inside. Free play then lunch, then back outside for more running around time. They seem to need to go out again after they eat. It's like recess . Then back inside for "quiet time" which is usually a mixture of several things and all take place in my living room. The kids have to stay in their spot on on a nap mat either reading, coloring or watching a "quiet" show like Little Bear or Caillou that I turn really low so they have to be quiet to be able to hear it. After a 2 hour break or so of quiet time (some do fall asleep during that time) we get up, have afternoon snack them its back to group activities, outdoor play and free play till pick up.

The quiet time saves my sanity bc I still need some down time in a 10.5 hour day!!!
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countrymom 03:04 PM 02-13-2013
I would move the nap time to 1pm and you have to do it for 2 weeks so they get use to routine.

second, after one hour I would get them up and they have to play quietly, but atleas for an hour they need to lay down so you can have a break.

get them up at the same time wether they fell asleep 20 min ago or what.

sounds like they are all off routine and they need to be put back on schedual but with their age you need to adjust their times.
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MissAnn 05:10 PM 02-13-2013
Originally Posted by Country Kids:
I honestly think I am going to go this route.

Insane, I know but I'm starting to think this is what is going to work for this group.

Right now 5 out of 6 are wide awake, talking (even to themselves), whispering, rolling around, getting up and down, and yes some of them are even seperated!

We have been laying down for about an hour. I have kids going to be coming in, in about 10 minutes because of early release day, so its going to just get worse.

So I was thinking of doing this awhile ago but really serious about it. I'm just really stressed through "my quiet time" and can get nothing done because of having to be on top of them.

Going to lay them down for about an hour and then get everyone up to do the rest of our day. Maybe do projects we didn't get done in the morning, outdoor time, things like that.

Sad thing most of these kids are up at 6:00 and a few it takes 1-2 hours after bedtime to go to sleep!
I would have to quit first! I live for nap time!
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MissAnn 05:13 PM 02-13-2013
I play this Native American flute music every nap time. They get sleepy as soon as they hear it. I think it hypnotizes them!
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makap 05:19 PM 02-13-2013
Originally Posted by MissAnn:
I would have to quit first! I live for nap time!

Uh yes and so do I! My day begins at 5 30 am. By 1 30-2 pm I am sorry but it is time to nap or be very, very quiet for at least one hour! I need this time to reorganize and eat!
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makap 05:20 PM 02-13-2013
Originally Posted by MissAnn:
I play this Native American flute music every nap time. They get sleepy as soon as they hear it. I think it hypnotizes them!

Please! I want one of those!
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Play Care 05:30 PM 02-13-2013
I would do it for now as a way to get through this current group. BUT I would not be advertising to take on more non nappers and I would be looking very hard to get some GOOD nappers in so I could start phasing out the worst of the non nappers (either aging out or refering them to a all day preschool where no naps are encouraged) Good Luck!
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countrymom 05:39 PM 02-13-2013
Originally Posted by MissAnn:
I play this Native American flute music every nap time. They get sleepy as soon as they hear it. I think it hypnotizes them!
I love that flute music, it is so relaxing.
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Meeko 06:35 PM 02-13-2013
Originally Posted by MissAnn:
I play this Native American flute music every nap time. They get sleepy as soon as they hear it. I think it hypnotizes them!
We have one too. Also one that plays very soft to music to the sounds of waves. Works like a charm.
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Meeko 06:37 PM 02-13-2013
Originally Posted by makap:
Please! I want one of those!
Walmart/Kmart etc usually have them in the area they sell the candles etc. Usually with a machine that lets you hear the first few bars of the tracks. They are inexpensive and worth their weight in gold!
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MissAnn 06:47 PM 02-13-2013
It's called Native American Flute on iTunes.
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MsCathy 08:03 PM 02-13-2013
I agree with MissAnn. I live for rest time.... I used to sell Discovery Toys And i use a cd from them called Sounds of Learning. It puts everyone to sleep.....even my husband.

I may try the flutes though (thanks for the idea)

I also find that tv keeps the older ones (over 2) from sleeping. So I allow tv for the first 15 min or so but no more than that. Then the cd goes on...
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coolconfidentme 04:35 AM 02-14-2013
I have mine play hard before lunch & have a story, then go down for a nap. It's sad I have to be the sleep police, but I need a break & I'll be the heavy when when it comes to naps. They get one warning & are outta the naptime room & get placed somewhere else. I can go weeks without an issue, then outta the blue, everyone is a clown. This week I have a circus full of clowns, UGH!
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Jewels 05:04 AM 02-14-2013
I decided a while ago when alot of my kids stopped napping to go this route, I do not want to make nap time a battle, I have 6 3 and 4 yr olds, that do not nap, I still need quiet time though, and I still think they need some quiet rest time, My room is a nice wide open room right upstairs in the main daycare area, so they all go in there, and I turn on a movie, the rule is they need to be good and quiet for 1 hour, and after the hour, I bring in large floor puzzles, building sets, crayons papers, geo boards, tag reader, I pick like 3-4 different things everyday, and everyone is happy, I still have a quiet time right out in the living room, where my little ones nap, and I hang out with the baby generally watch a couple TV shows on my laptop if the baby is awake, and clean if he is sleeping, I have no TV any other time of the day except early morning(6:30), and none of my parents mind the movie, the kids get their "rest" they are all falling asleep great at night, however if a kid is misbehaving to much in the morning, my first warning is generally "you will have to lay down for nap today" and I dont have to get stressed battling the kids that just wont fall asleep, and I have never had nap time start to early...12:30-12:45. Now in the summer I send all my school aged kids outside for the first hour or so, since they are allowed to play unsupervised. I try to hold off allowing the no naps until age 4, but I do have to 3 year olds that don't nap.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 05:13 AM 02-14-2013
Originally Posted by Country Kids:
3-5 year olds. 4 of them are up by 6 every day if not earlier.

We lay down right after lunch (12:30 and lay down till 3:00). You would think they would be tired by this time but no, they are ready to go for the afternoon.

I have tried earlier, later, black out curtains, seperate rooms, music, outside time, etc. Nothing works!

One of them didn't take a nap one day and fell asleep on the way home till 8:00 the next morning (16 hours). They need to sleep!

This group has been this way since the beginning-non nappers. I have more days of non napping with this group then days of napping. I would say 3 out of 5 days a weeks someone is not taking a nap!
How much physical activity are they getting? How much outdoor time? How much dancing time that includes jumping/walking/skipping/etc.?

If you could increase the physical activity and make naptime start at 1:00 after a calm down period of JUST reading books quietly for 15-30 minutes (depending on how much your kids can handle) then you may be able to help them get to sleep. Even my most difficult children fall asleep before an hour has passed and they never nap at home, none of them wake up at 6:00am, etc. They are all 3-5 with the exception of two 2's.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 05:14 AM 02-14-2013
Originally Posted by MissAnn:
I play this Native American flute music every nap time. They get sleepy as soon as they hear it. I think it hypnotizes them!
I play the same version of "The Lord's Prayer" and as SOON as they hear it they start yawning.
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Jewels 05:33 AM 02-14-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
How much physical activity are they getting? How much outdoor time? How much dancing time that includes jumping/walking/skipping/etc.?

If you could increase the physical activity and make naptime start at 1:00 after a calm down period of JUST reading books quietly for 15-30 minutes (depending on how much your kids can handle) then you may be able to help them get to sleep. Even my most difficult children fall asleep before an hour has passed and they never nap at home, none of them wake up at 6:00am, etc. They are all 3-5 with the exception of two 2's.
I know for me even this past summer after playing outside and swimmimg all morning and even after going back out for 20 minutes after lunch, my non nappers still half would not sleep, now some of mine would still fall asleep within the hour half the time, but I just dont push it, they go to bed early enough at home, I know my own daughter will sometimes have to go down for a nap, but the times she does she is awake in her bed for 1-2 hours before falling asleep. I do believe some children grow out of naps. my kids get lots of activity inside , and like I said half would fall asleep sometimes, but I just don't battle it.
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Country Kids 06:22 AM 02-14-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
How much physical activity are they getting? How much outdoor time? How much dancing time that includes jumping/walking/skipping/etc.?

If you could increase the physical activity and make naptime start at 1:00 after a calm down period of JUST reading books quietly for 15-30 minutes (depending on how much your kids can handle) then you may be able to help them get to sleep. Even my most difficult children fall asleep before an hour has passed and they never nap at home, none of them wake up at 6:00am, etc. They are all 3-5 with the exception of two 2's.

Lots of physical activity!!! We have been doing work out videos in the moringing/sometimes right before nap. We will be outside for 30 min or mor also.

Even my parents are telling me that they either aren't napping at home or falling asleep around 2-3 if they can settle down.

One of mine has been laying awake for 1-2 hours everynight after bedtime (staying in bed) but not being able to sleep. So falling asleep time is getting later and later and they are 2.

We have the same routine and always have. This group (2-3 years of being here) have always had issue's with naptime for some reason. I don't expect them to have to fall asleep right away but with the dark curtains, soft music you think they would be extra tired.

Also, its not 1 or 2 but the majority of them and I can only remove 2 of them somewhere else and that doesn't always work either.
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countrymom 06:25 AM 02-14-2013
I have a feeling that on the drive home many of the kids are falling asleep. So they are going to bed later. So they get up early and the processes begins over and over again.
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Country Kids 06:43 AM 02-14-2013
Originally Posted by countrymom:
I have a feeling that on the drive home many of the kids are falling asleep. So they are going to bed later. So they get up early and the processes begins over and over again.
I know this sounds weird but at least 3 of the families have something going on in pretty quick after pick up (dance, gymnastics, things like that). So they are going from here to these activities, then home for dinner, then bed. Some of them, not all but even the ones that don't, pretty much have a strict routine of home, dinner, bath, bed.


Three of them will be doing afternoon kindergarten but the funny thing is, those are the ones that do sleep the most! Its the younger ones (3-4) that aren't sleeping-

Anyway, I'm going to really think up some things to do in the afternoon that is quieter but still engaging. I'm also going to send out a letter to my parents letting them know so we are all on board with this!
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Tags:nap - not, sleep issues
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