Naptime Really CAN Be For Napping!!
Naptime struggles can not only sap your strength and energy, but also ruin the entire day's accomplishments for both you the teacher, and the children in your care. But never fear!! Just as there is almost always a simple tactic for taking control of other areas of your curriculum, so it is for naptime.
First, remember that naptime is just another part of curriculum; it is important to keep to a routine for the sake of your children and yourself. Also, always think in terms of age-appropriate expectations, especially when working with mixed-age groups. There was a time, for example, when I had a group of 20 children, the youngest not even 3, and the oldest just over 5 years old. A 3-year old may need help settling in, whereas a 5 year old should not be expected to sleep solidly through the entire rest time. You do not want to set yourself up for resentment and frustration by forcing a child to sleep when he doesn't need to.
Make sure guidelines are very clear regarding what can and cannot be done during naptime/rest time. For example, if someone needs to go potty, do they have to ask, or can they take it upon themselves? Are books allowed? For how long? As you begin visualizing your current naptime routine compared to your 'ideal' routine, you will no doubt come up with many other areas to look at.
Routine is key. A well-know quiet song, for example, or saying something like "I'm lowering the blinds now, that means it will be time to settle down and rest" is helpful. Sleeping places should not be changed frequently; of course, space limitations sometimes force us to switch things around, but be sure to explain to children where they will be resting today and why.
Equality is important too. If one child is allowed to read books for 15 minutes, so it goes for all the children. If you incorporate this into your routine, you will most likely see a settled, quiety group of children. Of course, give it a few days, and DON'T GIVE UP! Remember, routine, routine, routine!!
Take a listen at your music. I was horrified during an observation several months ago, to find a frazzled teacher trying to force a preschooler to go to sleep while he was positioned right in front of a blaring tape player. The poor child had his hands over his ears, but knew the rule of 'no talking', and didn't express himself to his teacher. Music should be soft in the background, just barely audible. Never use it to drown out other noises, and remember, not everyone sleeps to music! I, for one, need absolute quiet to sleep. Why should we expect children to be any different??
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