Robert C. Mills
Child Care Licensing Inspector
State of Indiana
Copyright/Access Information
Childcare regulations vary from state to state but frequently
childcare providers follow their own rest time guidelines based
on tradition rather than the law. This article will hopefully
dispel common myths attributed to regulation and provide appropriate
guidelines for child care facilities to follow.
MYTH: All preschool children are required to sleep after
lunch.
FACT: Regulation often requires that a rest period be provided,
however, children are never required to sleep. Many children do
not need to sleep during the day if they have plenty of sleep
at night. Flexibility, observation, and knowing your children
are the keys.
MYTH: Preschool children are required to nap for two hours
after lunch.
FACT: In most cases this would be totally inappropriate.
Children that nap usually do not need to sleep more than one hour.
Providers should be flexible so that the needs of children are
met and they can take naps of varying lengths of time dependent
on the individual child's requirements.
MYTH: Toddlers must follow a schedule and only nap after lunch.
FACT: Rest periods for infants and toddlers should be flexible
according to the child's individual needs. Appropriate room arrangement
can provide space for children that need to nap, while other children
play.
MYTH: Children must be quiet and stay on their cots for
the entire rest period.
FACT: Requiring a wide awake child to stay on a cot for
two hours with nothing to do could be considered cruel or harsh
treatment and should never be permitted. Children may be asked
to rest on their cot with little or nothing to do for a maximum
of thirty minutes. It is appropriate to permit children to nap
with a teddy, doll, or special reminder of home. After one-half
hour, most children that need to sleep - will. Children that don't
nap should then be allowed to play or read books.
MYTH: The room must be kept dark or children will not sleep.
FACT: Children that need to sleep - will sleep. Caregivers
must have sufficient light to see and provide direct supervision
of all sleeping children. Children that don't nap need adequate
light to read books and play with appropriate materials.
MYTH: Shoes must be kept on or off. Providers are not sure
about this but they usually go all one way or the other.
FACT: Shoes should usually be kept on during rest time
due to the possibility of an emergency occurring but this is not
required. Most children don't take their shoes off if caregivers
don't make it an issue. If children can sleep on those cots, they
certainly are not bothered by wearing shoes. Do not get into a
power struggle over shoes.
A flexible rest time policy can make this part of the day pleasant
for children and caregivers. Providers must communicate with parents
to determine which children need to sleep and which don't. The
caregiver can then make appropriate arrangements so children that
need to sleep are in quiet areas of the room. After one-half hour,
appropriate activities should be available for the non-napping
children and for other children as they wake. The room should
be arranged so that children that don't need to sleep can play
quietly with a variety of materials. Some providers arrange to
have a separate room available for children that don't need to
sleep. Art, puzzles, and reading books are all good rest time
activities. It is reasonable to expect children to respect napping
children, talk softly, and play quietly. Children cannot be expected
to play in absolute silence. In most rooms, the lights should
be turned on after a maximum of one-and-a-half hours. Children
that need longer naps will not be bothered by this. Children should
generally be allowed to wake at their own pace. Except in unusual
circumstances, determined by talking with parents, all children
should be gently awakened after a maximum of two hours.
BE CREATIVE - BE FLEXIBLE
[Just a thought, the children we coerce to sleep every day may
become tomorrow's caregivers in our nursing homes!]
If you have any questions about rest time or any appropriate practices,
ask your state licensing inspector for advice.
Any additions or changes to these materials must be preapproved by the author. Questions about the use of this article may be addressed to the author:
Robert C. Mills
Child Care Licensing Consultant
Division of Family and Children
PO Box 154
Evansville, IN 47701
Phone # (812) 421-5435
E-mail: goldenretlover@hotmail.com