I am a new preschool teacher wondering.. What is the most effective way to settle 4-yr.-olds down for NAPTIME?
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i’ll just add that the music shouldn’t be too loud or it will stimulate them..
the nap room should have curtains:)
you can read them a story using a very low tone of voice so that they are forced to calm down to listen..
you dont have to be firm ,if you create the correct nap mood and use the whisper tone for talking they WILL settle down… i guess if a child is still active.. well ..after all it’s only a nap.. if someone doesnt feel like napping i dont think this is a problem he\she could spend this time doing anything else…or what do you think?
edit: somebody told me this could be considered an advertisement so i’ll erase the part i suggested that kind of music…
Number 1: have a designated area for each child. Children are comfortable with things that are familiar. Have children lay in the same spot every day. If children keep each other awake with talking back and forth, separate those children, by putting them at opposite ends
Number 2: offer an alternate activity to napping. This can generally be accomplished by saying “you don’t have to sleep, but you need to stay on your cot/sleeping bag/mat and read a book quietly” or something along those lines
Number 3: let children bring in a favorite stuffed toy or blanket to sleep with. Some children simply refuse to sleep or even attempt to sleep without their comfort toy or blanket.
Number 4: don’t serve snack right before nap time, or you will constantly have children getting up to go to the bathroom. Also don’t have nap time immediately following recess without an unwind/quiet time first so that children can get back into quiet mode.
Number 5: read a story to the class, as though you were reading a bed time story. Pick a slightly longer book than you usually would, and don’t show the kids the pictures. Most of the time, the kids will drift off to sleep before the book is even finished.
Number 6: play a CD such as Baby Mozart in the CD player at a low volume. Classical music has the same effect on preschoolers that the weather channel has on adults who hate watching the weather, they will be sleeping in no time.
Number 7: have a bathroom time right before nap, to avoid the up/down up/down of having to go the bathroom when you are trying to settle everyone down.
Number 8: if your classroom has windows, close the blinds or curtains to make it semi dark in the classroom so children won’t be tempted to get up and participate in other activities.
Baroque music, like that of Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, and Vivaldi. These composers used very specific beats and patterns that automatically synchronize our minds and our bodies. For instance, most baroque music is timed at sixty beats per minute, which is the same as an average resting heart rate. With appropriate music the effects are as follows:
The pulse and blood pressure decrease.
The brain waves slow down.
The muscles relax.
Also, rubbing/patting their backs gently helps them feel secure in their environment.
Previous posters have the right idea. You want to create a calm, quiet, restful setting for naptime. You might have better luck referring to it as “Quiet Time” or “Rest Time” rather than “Nap Time” as many children see naps as for babies and they don’t nap anymore.
Assuming this is right after lunch, after they’ve all cleaned up and used the washroom, have a storytime. Turn on quiet restful music. Keep the blinds closed/lights low. Allow children to have a book and/or a special item to cuddle from home (special blanket or stuffie).
You’d be surprised how many resistant children will be more cooperative when told “You don’t have to sleep, but you do have to stay on your cot/mat/whatever quietly.” You might be surprised at how many end up falling asleep, too! LOL
Think about the kids personalities when laying out the cots. Don’t put two buddies next to each other if they won’t stop playing and chatting. Or mortal enemies that won’t stop fighting. It’s a good idea to put a child who always naps next to one who doesn’t. If you can, keep them farther then 2 feet apart not just for health reasons but so they don’t bump each other or disturb each other.
Also (I fought with my director a lot over this one but) I never took my lunch break until at least an hour into nap. If someone else came in right after or during lunch they’d all be up when I’d get back.
Lastly try not to be a stickler if some kids don’t nap (My mom says I stopped napping at about age 2 and did fine). Just find something quiet they can do on thier cots, or maybe there is another room they could play in, or an extra teacher (I know keep dreamin right) that could take them outside??
If not, and they refuse to settle down, enforce consequences. Ahead of time, let them know that during nap time this is what you expect, and if they don’t do that, then this is what will happen… loss of playtime, etc. If they don’t comply, follow through with the consequences and I bet the next day they will follow the rules. Reward them for good behavior. After naptime they get a special treat or prize from the treasure box.
Don’t let them do hyper activities right before naptime. Transistion them. Read a story or play a “quiet” game before naptime. If they are running around they aren’t going to easily settle down.
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