Oh my gosh, y’all, I’ve just reinstated mandatory nap time and it is SO NICE.
For a while now I’ve been thinking my 5 yr old needed naps during the day again. She wasn’t handling school time well and late in the day when it was time to get ready for bed she was having meltdowns. Then I read this article from Making Home about the importance of the mid-day nap and it just really sealed the deal.
Drama Queen wasn’t making it through the day without a nap, she did better when she got one = she still needs mid-day naps. Period.
Now, personally, I don’t mind her taking a nap except we usually do most of our school while Little Prince naps. On the other hand, as I mentioned, she wasn’t doing well with school during nap time anyway – so what am I really losing??
At any rate, the only problem with letting Drama Queen nap while Little Prince naps is… you guessed it – Princess wants a nap, too!!
Well, guess what? I gave in.
Naps for everybody!! Yay!
Except for mom. (Awwwww.) =P
So part of last week and so far this week, immediately after lunch they all three laid down. Sometimes they all sleep. Sometimes Little Prince sleeps and the girls just rest. But that’s just fine. You know why?
I get two hours of silence.
In the middle of my day.
And I can, you know, WORK.
So what about school? Well, we start earlier and do some before lunch. Whatever Princess has left we do after nap. And mommy gets two hours to recharge in the middle of the day, pay bills without kids screaming in the background, read, work on taxes… pretty much anything you can’t do with three kids running around like wild indians or scurvy pirates.
I don’t see mandatory naptime going anywhere anytime soon. Even if Princess and Drama Queen don’t need to sleep, they can always read. 😉
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I came over from Rocks In My Dryer, and I SO agree! I have mandatory nap/rest time for my kids, too. My 5 yr. old is in kindergarten, but when he is home in the afternoons on the weekends, he has rest time in his room for at least an hour. Usually he plays, but that is fine with me as long as he doesn’t wake his siblings and he isn’t bothering me. He talks a lot, so I just need that quiet break for my sanity!
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How awesome that is working for you! I am not looking forward to the day when mine quit the naps. But, like you, we have lots of books! 🙂
I didn’t mention this, but.. my oldest is EIGHT. And she still wants to take a nap most days. She has always slept more than her siblings and does fine (doesn’t stay up all night when she gets one) so I let her!! My middle daughter is 5 and doesn’t think she needs naps anymore – but she DOES. For the three year old a midday nap is still routine. But yeah, even when none of them need naps anymore – there’s going to be QUIET READING TIME. 😉
Saw your link on Rocks in My Dryer, and I couldn’t agree more! Some days I COUNT DOWN until naptime for my three year old and one year old. That’s my time to take a little break, eat lunch, and get some work done that I couldn’t ordinarily do with a baby hanging on my leg. 😉 Love the blog!
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Since my Girlie is just over 2, she still NEEDS a LONG nap every day. If she missed for some reason or the nap is later in the day, we pay for it until bedtime! Naptime is definitely my sanity time. I usually don’t use it to accomplish a whole lot; since I’m pregnant & huge I use it to lay down with a book & maybe catch some shut-eye myself. I’m planning to continue naptime until the kiddos start school, and beyond if we decide to homeschool. (Are the background stripes new? I like them!) Jeni’s last blog post..Yet… Read more »
I like naptime too. My dd is 3 and definitely still needs her nap. Right now I take a nap at the same time. I could get so much done and in silence if I didn’t…I’ll have to think long and hard about that one. I really could use a break from the question “why?”!
Girl, mandatory naps were the only thing that got me through the first five years for each of mine. In my world, naps before age five were non-negotiable.
Yay, you!
Very good idea. I’m thinking we need to re-institute this around here. My boys have gotten older, but I still need that break. 🙂
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Hi! Followed your link from WFMW. 🙂 We have quiet time everyday too and it is a lifesaver! It means the kids are up later at night, looking at books in bed, etc…but I won’t trade it for anything!
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Mandatory naps are where it is AT!!!
🙂
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