The End of Naps
Naptime. Beautiful, wonderful, naptime. Not only are naps a midday break for parents, children, and early childhood caregivers alike but they are an important piece of development, as well. As children grow an seemingly ‘don’t need a nap anymore’ it can be difficult to know whether to officially drop the nap, break through a sleep regression, or switch to incorporating quiet time instead.
We have daily nap and rest time as part of our daily schedule here at Summit Preparatory Academy to help our children have a break midday and rest. This has numerous benefits for both our students and early childhood educators, allowing for a bit of a reset mid-day in order to tackle the rest of the afternoon! Call today to ask about our daily schedule for each age group and check on our openings!
The Science: Why Naps Matter
- Memory consolidation & learning:
Naps improve memory retention in toddlers and preschoolers. In fact, an NIH-funded study showed kids remembered 10% more information after a nap than when awake - Emotional stability & behavior:
It’s no secret that regular naps reduce fussiness, help support emotional regulation as well as better moods
Signs to Leave the Nap Behind
Most Children transition away from naps between 3 and 5 years old (source). So, as a parent, caregiver, daycare or childcare worker, how do you know when a child is ready to forego the nap? Noting that just because a child no longer sleeps during nap time, a daily quiet time is still hugely beneficial. Especially if other children within the classroom or home are attempting to nap at that time, as well.
We are happy to accommodate here at Summit Preparatory Academy! If your little one is or needs to move away from napping, we are happy to provide them with a quiet activity they can do while resting with the class. Call today to schedule a tour to see what our naptimes look like and to chat about how we can support your family.
- Resisting naps, with no crash later
There’s not much like the fury of a child who still needs a nap, but did not get one. According to the Sleep Foundation, if your child can skip a nap and stay pleasant (no evening crankiness), they’re likely ready to forego naps altogether. - Bedtime trouble
If you suddenly have a night owl who can’t seem to get to sleep despite good sleep-hygiene habits, that might be a sign to shorten or phase out naps. - Night waking or early rising
Additionally, The Clevland Clinic asserts that frequent night wakings or early mornings might indicate that your little one it getting too much daytime sleep. - Quick transition to full-day engagement
If your child can stay alert and focused through a long day of daycare or preschool this can also be a sign of readiness.
Call today and schedule a tour to see what great fun (with some good rest) we have planned for our students here at Summit Preparatory Academy!
You’ve read the list and are now thinking your little one might be ready to transition away from afternoon an afternoon nap, but, what does that transition look like?
The Transition: How to Phase Out the Nap
- Gradually reduce nap length
Start by shortening long naps to about 45 minutes, slowly shortening that length until they are not napping at all (source). - Introduce “quiet time”
Harvard Health recommends that replacing naps with silent reading or soft play—children still get downtime even if they don’t sleep. This is pivotal in giving children a time to rest and recharge from a day of learning and play. - Adjust bedtime
When transitioning away from naps, move bedtime up slightly to help prevent overtiredness. - Sync with daycare/childcare scheduling
Early childhood education settings often follow nap schedules. Here at Summit Preparatory Academy, we are more than happy to support your little one whether they are sleeping or simply resting during the scheduled naptime. Schedule a tour and let’s chat about our openings and how we can come alongside your family to support your little one’s early childhood development.
Finishing Up…
There’s exact age that children must stop napping—many kindergartens actually continue to incorporate daily rest time. Pay attention to child’s behavior, sleep habits, and emotional state rather than their calendar age. A phased transition—shortening naps, introducing quiet time, and bumping up bedtime—is not only more effective but is much softer than the drastic change of dropping naps altogether.
Within early childhood education settings like daycare and childcare, or even at home, naps remain foundational until your child naturally outgrows them. As your little one grows, pay attention to your child’s cues and soak up naptime while it’s still developmentally appropriate!
Outdoor play, arts and crafts, structured learning, and independent play…it’s a lot for a little growing body! We have a lot going on and a lot to offer here at Summit Preparatory Academy. Call today to ask about our openings and to chat about how we can support your child in their early childhood education journey!