Dropping the Nap at 3: Quiet Time at Preschool

Most children stop napping somewhere between ages 3 and 5. At a full-day preschool, though, rest time usually stays on the schedule. Children who no longer sleep lie quietly on their mat for a while, then move to calm activities like books or puzzles while others keep sleeping.

Here is how to tell your child is ready, how preschool handles it, and how to keep evenings on track.

Signs your child is ready to drop the nap

• They lie awake for most of nap time, most days.
• On days they nap, bedtime stretches to 9:00 PM or later.
• They stay in a good mood through the afternoon without a nap on weekends.
• They fall asleep quickly at night on days without a nap.

Signs they still need it: meltdowns in the late afternoon, falling asleep in the car, or waking up grumpy and tired in the morning.

What Illinois rules say

Illinois licensing rules for day care centers (23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.350) require that children under 6 who are not yet in kindergarten and stay 5 hours or more get the chance to rest or nap. For children 3 and older, the rules say naps generally should not run longer than 2 hours, and resting without sleeping generally should not last more than 60 minutes. Children who do not sleep may get up and be helped to a quiet activity that does not disturb the sleepers.

How rest time works at preschool

Full-day programs usually set aside time after lunch for rest. A common setup:

1. Everyone rests first. Children lie on their own mat or cot with a small blanket. Lights are dim and music is soft.
2. Sleepers sleep. Many three-year-olds and some four-year-olds still fall asleep.
3. Non-sleepers move to quiet time. After a period of rest, children who are awake can look at books, do puzzles or draw quietly on their mat or at a table.
4. Everyone wakes up together for snack and afternoon activities.

Ask your center how long rest lasts and what non-sleepers do. You want quiet options, not an hour of lying still with nothing to do.

Should I ask daycare to keep my child awake?

Many parents ask this when a nap pushes bedtime late. Most centers will not keep a child from resting, since the state requires the chance to rest, and it often backfires anyway. A tired four-year-old who is kept awake may fall apart by pickup. Better options:

• Ask whether teachers can wake your child after a shorter nap, such as 45 minutes.
• Move bedtime a little later on days your child naps.
• Keep the morning wake-up time steady, which helps more than anything else.

The in-between stage

Many children nap some days and not others for months. They may sleep at preschool, where the routine is strong, but not at home on weekends. See why kids nap at daycare but not at home. During this stage:

• Offer quiet time at home on weekends, even if your child does not sleep.
• Use an earlier bedtime on no-nap days.
• Watch for a pattern over a few weeks, not a single day.

Quiet time at home

Even after the nap is gone, a daily quiet hour helps children and parents reset. Set up a basket of books, puzzles and quiet toys. A visual timer or a song can show when quiet time ends. Start with 20 minutes and build up.

How much sleep preschoolers need

Children ages 3 to 5 need about 10 to 13 hours of sleep in 24 hours, including naps, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. A child who no longer naps needs most of that at night, so a 7:00 to 8:00 PM bedtime is common.

Frequently asked questions

What age do kids stop napping at preschool?

Most stop between 3 and 5. Many still nap at preschool longer than at home because of the routine.

Do preschools have to give children rest time?

Licensed Illinois day care centers must give children under 6, who are not in kindergarten and stay 5 or more hours, the chance to rest or nap. Shorter part-day programs may not include rest time.

What do kids who don't nap do at preschool?

They rest quietly for a while, then look at books, do puzzles or draw while others sleep.

My child naps at preschool and won't sleep at night. What can I do?

Ask about a shorter nap, keep the wake-up time steady, and adjust bedtime a bit later for a few weeks.

Rest time at Children's Land

Children in our preschool and pre-K programs follow a daily routine with time for rest after lunch. Ask your location how rest time works for children who no longer nap, or contact us.

Related reading: Two Naps to One: How Toddlers Make the Switch at Daycare.