In the Classroom: The Fireflies
To nap or not to nap?
In general, young children that come to school every day need rest time, but in some cases they might be getting all of their relaxation at night. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics a 3-5 year old needs 10 - 13 hours per day, including nap time.
Children at this age typically go to bed between 7 and 9 pm, and wake up between 6 and 8 am. At age 3, most children are still napping, while by age 5, most are not. Naps gradually become shorter, as well.
So what happens to the children that don’t need a nap at school?
In the Firefly classroom we are lucky to have two rooms. We ask the kids that don’t sleep to try and be respectful of the kids that do need to sleep. We offer quiet reminders that friends are still resting or that we are using this kind of voice (in my very quiet voice) during this time. This helps us ensure that everyone gets what they need.
We also ask the kids to look at books quietly while others are asleep. We bring the no “nappers” into the front room and they can look together or by themselves at books. This provides them with interaction of their peers or down time without sleeping.
We are very lucky to have the library room right next door to us, too. When our afternoon assistant arrives, it is often a wonderful time to take small groups into other areas of PIC. This gives the kids that might need a change of scenery a chance to go off and explore. The library is one of our favorites because it is still providing kids with stimulation, but it is also a relaxing time for them.
It’s tricky to know if your child needs to rest or is getting the sleep they need at home, so please talk with us if you are having problems with sleep at home. We can help come up with a plan for your child that will be supportive to all involved!