What can I do to get the kids in my daycare to nap QUIETLY.?

Question

I have a few that refuse to be quiet. Yes, they are old enough to know better. Ages 3-5. The younger ones fall asleep, but the older ones wake the others up.

Answer 1

I teach preschool to 3-4 year olds, and I used to have the same problem. I have since implemented a few ideas, and I don't have the problem anymore! Here is what I did:

First, play calming, quiet music without words. I found that when the music had words, the children were more restless, more likely to sing, and less likely to sleep. My children particularly like the CDs with nature sounds such as ocean waves, rain, and whale calls.

Second, take a look at how the children are placed in the room during nap time. Any child who stays awake should (ideally) not be able to see or talk to any other child who is awake. Of course, this is highly dependent on the room arrangement, but separating the loudest, least likely to be quiet children is a key factor in keeping the other children asleep. A second option is to place the loud, awake children right next to the teacher so that you can quickly (and without yelling) remind them to be quiet when they are loud.

Third, establish a mandatory "silent" time at the beginning of nap. In my state, children are required to rest on their cots for 30 minutes, so I have taught my children that it is a rule that they cannot get up or talk for the first 30 minutes - I would not extend this time any longer. This will take training, but patience and consistency will eventually teach your children to respect the other children's right to sleep. During this silent period, the teachers also do not talk to each other - instead we rub backs or sit next to the children so that they can calm down.

Last, and very importantly, offer quiet activities for the children who are awake after the silent period. I'm not sure how long your nap time is, but the one at my school is 2 hours. I would certainly create my own "fun" by being loud and talking if I was expected to be quiet for 2 whole hours! I have curbed this by offering "nap time bags" after the silent period. The bags are merely Ziploc bags with quiet activities such as small puzzles, matching games, sensory bags (bags with hair gel in them to squeeze), sensory bottles (water bottles with hair gel, water, oil, syrup, or any other liquid with glitter, buttons, etc. in them), file folder games, or a small pad of paper with crayons. The children are allowed to have one bag at a time, but they must be on their cots! This helps to keep them from waking up the other children. I walk around the room every 15-20 minutes to let the children change their bag if they desire. The other rule that I have is that if the children begin to talk or make loud noises, I take their bag away for 5-10 minutes (depending on the child). The nap time bags are available only during nap and are rotated every month or so (so that the children are excited by the bags and do not get bored).

This may seem like a lot of work, and initially it will take some time, training, and patience. All I can say is, I love having a quiet rest time so that I can get my lesson plans, child journals, etc. completed during rest time. I also love that the sleeping children are not woken up and so are not grumpy later in the day! The time and effort was well worth it in my opinion. Good luck!

Answer 2

Classical music always presents an atmosphere of peacefulness. Additionally, if there is something that the older kids like to do in the afternoon after nap. You could try removing that privillage until they learn to OBEY. Just a suggestion

Answer 3

THE MUSIC IS A GOOD IDEA BUT I THINK WHAT WOULD DEFINATELY WORK AND BE HEALTHY IS TO LET THEM HAVE ORGANIZED ACTIVIES THAT ARE FAST PACED. SUCH AS PLAY THE SONG HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES AND MAKE THEM DANCE TO IT AND LET THEM BE SUPER SILLY SO THEY GET TIRED. ANOTHER THING WOULD BE TO PLAY SIMON SEZ AND MAKE IT THAT SIMON SAYS TO JUMP ON ONE FOOT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE ROOM, OR TO WALK UP A HILL REALLY FAST OR TO MOVE THEIR ARMS IN A CIRCLE REAL FAST, THESE ARE ALL THINGS TO MAKE THEM TIRED AND THEY WILL HAVE A BLAST. THEY WILL BRAG ABOUT HOW GREAT A TIME THEY HAD.
SOME MORE GAMES COULD BE TO DRAW NUMBERS OR LETTERS ON THE FLOOR AND GET THEM TO RUN TO THE SPECIFIC LETTER. EVEN IF THEY DON'T KNOW LETTERS OR NUMBERS YET, THEY WILL LEARN FROM THE ACTIVITY OF RUNNING TO THEM (WITHOUT PUSHING OF COURSE) AND HAVING THE FUN OF DOING IT. AND DO IT FAST, SO IF THEY DON'T GO TO THE RIGHT LETTER , TELL THEM WHICH TO GO TO AND SEE WHO GETS THERE FIRST. BEFORE NAP TIME GIVE THEM AT LEAST A HALF HOUR OF RIGOROUS ACTIVITY.
ANOTHER IDEA WOULD BE TO SEPARATE THEM BY BUYING OFFICE DIVIDERS OR JUST USE SIMPLE CARDBOARD TO MAKE A WALL AND KEEP THE BIGGER KIDS SEPARATED. OFFER REWARDS TO HAVE THE KIDS BE QUIETER, BRIBERY ALMOST ALWAYS WORKS. IN THE SUMMER TIME HAVE WATER DAY BEFORE NAPS, BUY A BLOW UP SLIDE LIKE THEY HAVE AT WALMART THAT HAS A SLIP AND SLIDE WITH IT. I'M SURE YOU CAN INCORPORTATE LEARNING INTO THE FUN SOMEHOW. IN THE WINTER BUILD IGLOOS AND MAKE THEM RUN AROUND THE YARD WITH A SHOVEL AND SEE WHO CAN DO IT WITHOUT LETTING THE SNOW DROP. THIS CAN BE DONE IN THE FALL WITH THE LEAVES, ETC.
YOU WORK WITH KIDS, YOU HAVE TO LOVE THEM OR YOU WOULDN'T DO IT, ANYTHING WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND LEARNING IS GREAT FOR MAKING SMART AND TIRED KIDS.
GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

when the younger ones go to sleep, move the others to a quiet table and let them color

bribe them with stickers. If you lay quietly while everyone is napping, I will give you a sticker for each day and on Friday you can play with the paint, play dough..whatever as a reward.

Answer 5

Take the children outside and let them play in the morning. Then after lunch they should be tired for a nap. sometimes five year old don't like to nap. They feel they are to big.

Answer 6

?? This isn't really hard I take care of A six year old and a four year old twice every two years for about three months. Bribery! It always works. Want a candy? Well go to sleep!!! or theres a giant spider in the room and it only attacks only. those it thinks is awake. Sorry that was a threat. Child sychology when you ask them anything they think whats in it foor me.

Answer 7

Do you go outside just before lunch??? I would get mine to run races about 5 mins before we went in(health permitting), if your stuck inside try (jumping,running in place)... when lunch starts, start playing soft music(classical,nature)...seperate talkers from their friends, make sure it is dark(or as dark as you can get it), keep that music going, and start rubbing backs.....praise the ones who took naps, award stars or stickers and at the end of the week the ones who have more than one star get to choose from a suprise box---you'd be suprised at how many want to get at that special box. Also the 'sleepers' get to be chore helpers in the afternoon, choose a circletime song (be creative).

Answer 8

Years ago, I taught pre-school and I told them that they did not have to sleep but they had to be quiet and not move. If you are having a particularly hard day I would give them books to look at but I do not suggest it, because they will take advantage of it....good luck

Stars on a chart for quietness might work

Answer 9

Try playing some classical music. Bach seems to work for our little ones... Pachabel's Canon in D is good too. Take care and good luck!

Answer 10

You could try introducing them to meditation type technics..Classical music, some Eyna anything soothing to the soul. Encourage them to close their eyes and to wait for pictures or scenes to appear..it's like dreaming. You'd be surprised the creative and colorful stories they will have to share later.