What to do when my 4 year old boy is having problems at school with nap time...HELP!!!

Sarah - posted on 09/14/2012

taking nap may be optional but allowing the other children to sleep is only fair. Children need to follow rules and boundaries and there should be no exceptions. It is a learned behavoir to be quiet and mindful of others, and I think that alot of parents do not have high expectations and make excuses for their children disobeying and not being respectful of others. YES, he should remain quiet while his peers sleep, and it seems naps arent the problem, the problem seems to be that he needs more boundaries, higher expectations, and yes to mature! he should not be allowed to get up and play, or do special activities... if other children saw that NONE of them would nap!!! would all disobey the rules to be able to spend one on one with their teacher! maybe he needs more positive or one on one attention (at other times during the day?)

Christine - posted on 08/31/2012

I would feel very upset if my child was told they couldn't attend school because they didn't want to participate in nap time. The teachers should take advantage of this with him and have him helping them prepare activities for the afternoon or allow him to do activities away from the other kids. At 4yo's having a nap shouldn't be mandatory. If he is doing fine academically then they shouldn't be holding him back over nap time.

Dove - posted on 08/28/2012

He might not BE mature enough for pre-k just yet. There is definitely more to school than the academic factor and boys 'typically' take longer to mature. Let me just say... I'm VERY glad my son was born at the time of year that he is 4.5 now and in preschool... so he'll be 5.5 when he starts K. Academically speaking...he'd probably hold his own in K right now, but emotionally speaking... not a chance.



Gold stars and treats might be a good motivator. ;) Good luck!

Katherine - posted on 08/28/2012

Thank you ladies...his school has offered him to play quietly on his cot...the problem is he's really active so getting him to sit still for more then maybe 10 minutes max is a challenge even for me (unless he's eating of course lol) and he does usually need a nap still (if not he's falling asleep at like 5:30 or 6 on the car ride home) I talked to him about being respectful to his friends while they sleep and that nap time is quiet time and he'll get like a gold star at home or a treat if he's good there...we'll see...they only suggested holding him back because maybe he wasn't "mature" enough yet to be in Pre-K

Dove - posted on 08/28/2012

Does he still need a nap at home? My son (4.5) could use a nap some days, but then bedtime is a NIGHTMARE. His preschool has nap time, but I pick him up right after lunch instead. Holding back a child for not taking a nap is absurd.

Amy - posted on 08/27/2012

I agree with Michelle it seems odd to me that they have the 4 year olds napping, my daughter is 2 1/2 and doesn't nap anymore. I would see if they can set up something alternatively that your son can do during "nap" time, like maybe going to another learning room or setting up an area for him to play quietly. If they aren't willing to accommodate it I would possibly start looking for another preschool.

Michelle - posted on 08/27/2012

Most 4 year olds are ready to drop their nap my daughter goes to preschool and they don't nap there. I would talk to them about the teachers allowing him to sit on his cot to read a book or play quietly with some toys until the set nap time is over.