Getting 8 children to fall asleep in your family daycare is a task that with a little experience and know how can be done effortlessly.
How is it even possible to get all these children taking a nap at the same time? Well, I'm here to tell you it is totally possible but you will need some pointers and advice. It's not an easy task, but who said anything in life was easy. Not having a challenge would mean your life would be boring and you wouldn't learn anything. Some how I don't think that's what God had in store of us.
The first important tidbit of information is consideration for the sleeping environment in your family daycare. Children must have an area that is quite and dark to sleep in, and this area must be separate from other areas where there may be noise. Without this children will have distractions falling asleep.
These distractions be may the phone that rings or the toys that are across the room. Children especially need to feel relaxed in order to fall asleep.
1. Complete all busy, energetic activities, exercise and outdoor play early in the day. I always say poop them out and get all that energy out! If children have had an active morning they are more inclined to take a nice afternoon nap. Also try not to give children candy or other sugar related items. This only get's them too excited and it's just plan bad for children's teeth.
2. Make sure you understand your children and find out who the good sleepers are and those who are not. Try to separate the children who fall asleep right away from those who do not and need assistance. The children who have problems falling asleep and relaxing will need their backs rubbed and will need to be directed to lying down and not leaving their sleeping area.
3. For children who wake up early make sure you have quite activities set aside for them so that they do not disrupt the rest of the sleeping children. Construct a special box for early risers that has all activities that can be done quietly. This way the children who are sleeping will have extra time to rest. Your earlier riser box can contain books, stickers, coloring, small game.
4. Make sure that you create an environment that is relaxing. Perhaps lowering the lights, and playing soft music. Get into the habit of reading a book before nap time which signals the next step- nap time.
Getting all your daycare children to sleep at the same time is a task that will be achieved with trial and error. It takes time and experimentation for you to learn what works and what doesn't. Every provider has a certain way of organizing their day and it's up to you to decide just how you want things to be.
