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lovebeingamom
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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My DD (just turned 4 yo) has officially given up naps  . However, I find it essential for all of us if she (we both) still had some sort of quiet time each day. What are some ideas for quiet time - I am at a loss? I am really looking forward to hearing some suggestions.
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Angi
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 1:23pm | IP Logged
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Our rule is they can play whatever they want, in their bed, quietly. Often dolls, legos, Barbie's, etc are played with, as are books.
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JamieCarin
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| Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 3:11pm | IP Logged
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My son is about to turn 3 and he is starting to phase out his nap. I try not to say anything specific to him. I just changed my vocabulary a tiny bit. Now instead of saying "Ok it is time to go nap." I will say, "It is time to go rest." And I still tuck him into bed like before and close his door. He is a pretty independent fellow and that might be why it works. He will either stay tucked in and fall asleep or he will get up and take books off his shelf and spent time reading. He doesn't really have any toys in his room other than books. But I might try just having some books in there, recommending so time to rest and put heron her bed and see what happens.
I look forward to seeing what others say as I wonder how long this will keep working for me LOL 
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Chris V
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| Posted: Jan 26 2011 at 12:08am | IP Logged
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Quiet time is a big deal for me and I am one to always enforce it  . I need it, for my own peace of heart; my kids need it, for their own peace of heart (though they may not appreciate it nearly as much as I do. My girls are 6 years old, 4 years old (on Tuesday!!  ) and 21 months. Everybody gets their quiet time right after lunch. It's the same thing *everyday*. The girls grab their blankets, maybe a favorite pillow that they drag about the house all day long, a doll, and perhaps whatever else they can squeeze in their hand. Each of them have their own bookcase in their bedrooms, so they have plenty of books to read (look through) ... I should mention that I'm talking about my 4 and 6 year old mainly. ...obviously my 21 month old sleeps during her quiet time.
For my 6 year old: She rarely falls asleep, although it can happen maybe once a week or so. She's allowed to play with *a* doll, maybe two or so (I don't let her get carried away), and read books ... often I just hear her talking aloud, day dreaming, singing quietly to herself. I tell her what time she is excused (typically one-hour), and she's responsible for checking the time and excusing herself (an added bonus to this :: she's now excellent at telling time  )
For my soon-to-be-on-Tuesday 4 year old: She almost always falls asleep and will sleep for 2 hours EVERY afternoon, EVERY day (yes, I know it's amazing... ). But on the days that she doesn't (which is like twice a month), the same rules apply - keeping it *quiet* is the key. Although, I don't put her in charge of keeping track of how long she has her quiet time for; I come and get her when she is excused.
I think the key to getting your children to be ok with having a quiet time is to 1) be consistent; do it everyday - Saturdays and Sundays are no exception. 2) keep the rhythm of quiet time flowing even as your child transitions from napping to no-napping. They won't know anything differnt and it'll be no big deal. And 3) just as you mentioned; don't announce to you child that they "don't have to fall asleep", just call it *quiet time* because that's all that it is.
*ETA* Oh, I should mention, I have NO intention of ending my, um... their quiet time anytime soon. This may just go on forever ... or until they get married and move out.
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Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11) 
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Jan 26 2011 at 6:02am | IP Logged
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We do the same here- just a quiet time after lunch. Everyone has to go to their own rooms and play or read quietly. With the door shut. Sometimes the older two say they don't need a quiet time today and I say, "But Mommy does!"
I <3 quiet time.
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Krista
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I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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JamieCarin
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| Posted: Jan 26 2011 at 7:20am | IP Logged
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I agree that making it seamless as possible will probably work best. If she always went up for a nap and is still going up for a nap only not necessarily sleeping.
BTW with my son I find if he fights me about going up he needs to SLEEP. If he happily just gets up and goes upstairs he likely doesn't need the nap that day
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Ad Silvam Ibimus
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 26 2011 at 8:44am | IP Logged
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My oldest son gave up naps at 3. I thought all was lost, because I really, really needed *MY* downtime. Then I had some brilliant friends and spiritual director who said quiet time was necessary for me and for my sons.
So, I put the boys in their rooms. My 3 yo still takes naps most days. It's supposed to be a time to be quiet to let the body relax, so I don't give them much. Now that my oldest son can read, he happily goes up for quiet time. But before that, there were lots of picture books.
My son would pore over picture books, but also things like Childcraft, Saint books with copious art, Bible stories with illustrations, art books, etc.
But other ideas:
Music: soft, calm music
Audio stories: Jim Weiss' voice is so soothing
Handwork: stringing beads, sewing cards. If she is capable of doing little things like finger knitting, cross stitch, crochet, hand sewing (without frustration or needed supervision) I would add that.
Sketching: Nature journal or small sketch book. Give her a few ideas to draw while you are resting. Nothing messy, just pencils.
As for me, I aim to do my spiritual reading, some praying, reading, and napping during this time. But some days it's just a desperate nap. I find I can't really concentrate in the same room with ds, so I *Need* quiet time to unwind.
The key thing is to not make the quiet time too long, at least at the beginning. The attention span is short, and if I take too long a time, I find my older son hanging from the fan. Okay, not literally, but he's jumping around anxious to get out, and the quiet time becomes counter productive.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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lovebeingamom
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| Posted: Jan 26 2011 at 1:41pm | IP Logged
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Chris V wrote:
Quiet time is a big deal for me and I am one to always enforce it . I need it, for my own peace of heart; my kids need it, for their own peace of heart (though they may not appreciate it nearly as much as I do. My girls are 6 years old, 4 years old (on Tuesday!! ) and 21 months. Everybody gets their quiet time right after lunch. It's the same thing *everyday*. The girls grab their blankets, maybe a favorite pillow that they drag about the house all day long, a doll, and perhaps whatever else they can squeeze in their hand. Each of them have their own bookcase in their bedrooms, so they have plenty of books to read (look through) ... I should mention that I'm talking about my 4 and 6 year old mainly. ...obviously my 21 month old sleeps during her quiet time.
For my 6 year old: She rarely falls asleep, although it can happen maybe once a week or so. She's allowed to play with *a* doll, maybe two or so (I don't let her get carried away), and read books ... often I just hear her talking aloud, day dreaming, singing quietly to herself. I tell her what time she is excused (typically one-hour), and she's responsible for checking the time and excusing herself (an added bonus to this :: she's now excellent at telling time )
For my soon-to-be-on-Tuesday 4 year old: She almost always falls asleep and will sleep for 2 hours EVERY afternoon, EVERY day (yes, I know it's amazing... ). But on the days that she doesn't (which is like twice a month), the same rules apply - keeping it *quiet* is the key. Although, I don't put her in charge of keeping track of how long she has her quiet time for; I come and get her when she is excused.
I think the key to getting your children to be ok with having a quiet time is to 1) be consistent; do it everyday - Saturdays and Sundays are no exception. 2) keep the rhythm of quiet time flowing even as your child transitions from napping to no-napping. They won't know anything differnt and it'll be no big deal. And 3) just as you mentioned; don't announce to you child that they "don't have to fall asleep", just call it *quiet time* because that's all that it is.
*ETA* Oh, I should mention, I have NO intention of ending my, um... their quiet time anytime soon. This may just go on forever ... or until they get married and move out. |
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I totally love it!!!! This is exactly what we currently do - yay me  !!! I wasn't sure what *kind of things* to do in quiet time ... THAT ARE QUIET!!!! Thanks for replying!
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atara
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| Posted: March 26 2011 at 2:46pm | IP Logged
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My son is two and a half and he is required to stay in his room two hours (unless he sleeps more!).
He is not allowed out of his room until we come to get him. If he awakens early, he can play in his room. I don't make him stay in the bed, but he usually does. But, if he wakes really early, he will play. I've done this since the beginning and he is used to it.
Now, another you can do to get them used to staying in their room is "room time." Every morning, right after breakfast, he is "playtime" or "roomtime." I set a timer (on a high shelf!) for a 45 minutes, turn on some music (Hide 'Em In Your Heart is great!), and then will ask him which he toys he'd like to play with. I keep "roomtime" toys on a high shelf to maintain interest. I LOVE IT! I started it as "playpen" time when he was little and have never looked back.
It really gives me a break and lets him be alone. He can get pretty wrapped up playing because we are doing a lot of clean up after it's done, but that's okay. 
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Ideas for quiet time needed
