My daughter is in an all-day nursery-school program. Part of the school day for the 4-year-olds includes a 45-minute rest period after lunch. Is this developmentally appropriate for a child of her age? - Waste of Time
Answer: A full-day program at your daughter's age can be very tiring. Most preschool programs are very structured, and children are kept quite busy with many organized activities. While there will be some individual activities, most tend to be done as part of a group. Your daughter needs some quiet time to herself to be ready for the afternoon activities.
Most full-day programs do have a rest period. It is developmentally appropriate, as many 4-year-olds still need a nap. In fact, this active age group is one in which children still need a lot of sleep and rest. Your daughter does not have to nap. Children are only required to lie down on a cot or mat and remain quietly in their space so their classmates may nap. Often a caregiver will read a story during rest time that will keep the attention of those who do not nap. We bet your daughter gets a lot more out of the afternoon activities because she is rested. If she is having serious trouble resting quietly, talk to her caregivers about the possibility of her having a soft toy to play with or a book to look at.