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Still Napping and Starting Kindergarten in September

It's going to be a long day.... but they will be okay!

By Jamie Contarini August 19, 2021


Is your little one starting kindergarten soon? I am sure you are probably thinking “where did the time go?” And if they are still taking naps – or enjoying quiet time then you might be a little unsure of what to do…. Do you stop the nap now? Get them used to being awake for the entire day? How are they going to adjust to the full days?   

Move to quiet time:

If your little one is still napping, try offering quiet time instead. Still take them to their room at the regular naptime and offer the length of time that they would normally sleep, but keep the curtains and blinds open and offer them some quiet toys to play with. You can continue to offer quiet time on the weekends once school starts. If they nap on the weekends, you can let them, but be sure that they have at least one hour in the afternoon of quiet time- no screens (at least for the first few weeks of school). School is exhausting!   

TIP! If you are taking away the nap, offer an earlier bedtime. Even if you can only do it on the weekend - you will want to offer some time to make up for the lost sleep. 

Talk to your child:

Teach them that if they are tired then they can tell the teacher and/or go sit and read a book or lay in a cozy area and rest.  It might only be a short break - but enough to give them some added energy to make it through the day.  The key will be teaching them to find a way to rest in a very busy environment.  Things have changed in the last year, and some teachers are sending photos or a video of the classroom. Watch it with your child and make some suggestions of things they can do for quiet play.   

Talk to your teacher:

Talk to your teacher and let them know that your little one is used to having that break in the afternoon.  If you have a quiet time box at home, ask your teacher if you can supply one to the class.  I spoke with a few kindergarten teachers and asked what happens to the kids who are still napping and having quiet time and here are their responses:  ”Some kids fall asleep." “We read books and have a quiet play.” "You'd be surprised at how well they handle the full day! Often they get tired once they get home and hit the couch."   

Make bedtime earlier:

Kindergarten is going to be full of new things to learn and do and it is going to be very exciting and scary at the same time. Do not be afraid to offer an early bedtime - 6:00 pm (if you can do it) is not too early. Use the earlier bedtime until your little one adjusts to their new routine. 

TIP! If you start to see early rising in the morning, it is often a sign that bedtime is too late, and that they are overtired. So again, move that bedtime earlier when you can, and don’t start your day until your desired wake time.

Have a consistent bedtime routine:

Having a consistent bedtime routine cues your body for sleep. I often talk about babies and toddlers and how important a consistent bedtime routine is, but school-age children need that wind-down time as well. Reading a book together, or asking about their day after they are all ready for bed is a great way to reconnect. If your little one is having a hard time adjusting to school, then asking about their day earlier might be a better idea. 

You have got this - new adventures await!

Bio: Jamie is a certified Family Sleep Institute Sleep Consultant with Good Night Sleep Site. Proud Mama of two boys and is new to the Ottawa area. Jamie realized that her interest in helping change some of her son’s sleep habits actually turned into a passion and they happily joined the Good Night team with her mission being to help families succeed as they did.

  When she is not working, Jamie enjoys family time with her husband, sons, and golden retriever. 

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