Hi Moms,
I need some advice based on your experience. Our son will be 3 in August. He has never been a great sleeper and for that reason he has always held on to his naps a little bit longer than most kids. He stayed at 3 naps a bit longer, then at 2 naps longer, and is currently taking 1 nap a day. His 1 nap can/will last anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hrs. His normal routine is wake between 6-7 a.m., nap at 1 p.m., and in bed around 7:30 p.m. There is no adjusting his wake time. The boy has his own internal clock that can not be reset, believe me, we have tried. During daylight savings he wakes between 5-6 a.m. Occasionally, when a change in schedule requires an early nap, he usually refuses a nap. When this happens, he does not cope well.
Here is the problem: the Preschool we have chosen only has openings for the 12-3 p.m. session. Should we continue trying to adjust his schedule, if so how? Should we try to drop the nap all together and maybe go for an earlier bed time? Or should we wait until January or whenever we can get him into morning Preschool.
He is currently thriving, hitting all milestones on time, and has many enrichment opportunities. But he really could use friends. We have tried playgroups but do to scheduling have found regular playgroups difficult to find/attend. We constantly take him to the Children’s Museum, Open Gyms, Parks, or anywhere where he has a chance to socialize. But since he doesn’t see the same kids regularly, and the many distractions at these places, make it hard to form a solid bond.
Has anybody else struggled with this decision, what did you do, and what is your advice?
Thanks for your input!
****II’m sensing a theme of keeping the nap and adjusting the schedule. While I agree naps are important and think he should keep his nap. I am not sure how to do it. Waiting until he gets home at 3 will interfere with his bedtime and putting him down late dosen’t mean he will sleep later. He is like a rooster, when the sun comes up, so does he!
So do we dare wake him up early so he is ready for an early nap? Or should we wait until there is an opening?
Thanks again,
RO
I wouldn't mess with his sleeping habits; they sound good to me. I'd find another preschool with morning openings. If you really like this one, see if you can go ahead and sign up now for the 4 year-olds class next year in the mornings.
Naps are much more important at this age. Loss of sleep can create a mess with learning and hitting those milestones. I would wait for an opening, he is not going to be behind as long as you continue to find little park district classes, and take him on field trips to zoos and museums.
my advice is to find a way to keep his nap schedule. he is too young to give that up, which, if he does have to give it up, it will reflect itself in his overall attitude and ability to go through the day.
if i were you, and this is the preschool i wanted for my kids (none other) then i would put down his name on the waiting list for the morning slots. a lot of parents sign kids up, and end up withdrawing (moving, finding something else, finances falling through etc). when i chose my kids preschool, there was only one i had my heart set on. that was it. i was told by the director that the waiting list is one year long. i had twins, and per his words, chances of openings for both in less than a year were slim. i still got on the waiting list, and a week later we got a call saying the slots were open. i never asked how come two slots were open at the same time or why was it our kids were called to fill the slots but there we were.
good luck
Are there other preschools that you can look into, with morning sessions? if not, I'd send in the deposit for afternoons, and do nothing about changing the nap. If you're talking about starting in September, that's 5 months away and his schedule could change, that's actually a very long time for such a little boy. My oldest dropped her nap just before turning 3, that could happen to your son, my youngest napped til around the time he turned 4. I'd take the chance, but if his nap doesn't drop or change, then I'd wait and send him for the morning sessions in January. Also, get his name on the waiting list for the morning sessions for September - parents send the deposit and then withdraw often - decide to send the child elsewhere, kid isn't toilet trained in time, etc
Good luck
My son napped once a day through pre-school and kindergarten. It was hard going without the nap in 1st grade, but on weekends he still napped. It varies from child to child, but if they need the sleep, let them nap when ever they can. He'll make friends in school. Toddlers and younger kids (up to kindergarten sometimes) do something called parallel play (play next to each other rather than playing cooperatively with each other). Our son started full day preschool at 3 1/2 (as soon as he was potty trained) and he was fine.
I would wait until you get a morning spot. My son is 5 and still takes a nap most days...and he sleeps 11-12 hours per night. Some kids just need an afternoon nap and there is no need to push getting rid of it. Preschool can wait.
Hi R. - I guess the question comes to - do you believe his nap time and keeping his sleep schedule the same is more important that having him attend preschool right now?
I know it seems like his schedule is set in stone, but it really isnt. He is going to grow out of his nap soon anyway - possibly even by the next school year. I had same schedule dilemma with my oldest. I went ahead and enrolled in PM preschool and then asked to be put on a waiting list for openings in the morning. By the time the school was ready to start, I had a spot in the AM class. Btw - my son's nap was always at 1:30 no matter what. Once he started AM preschool, he rarely ever napped at 1:30 again. The times he did nap, it would be about 60min around 3:00 and bedtime was 7:30
If you do the PM class, it sounds like it might only be for one semester. Perhaps start adding in some morning quiet time reading books with you cuddled on the couch etc. rather than letting him go full bore. Perhaps also use the summer to start dropping some his afternoon naps with some fun activities that you might normally do in the morning. Just ideas.
Wait until next year for preschool. He's only 3. He only needs one year of preschool before kindergarten to be a successful student. If he is still napping that is a sign he is not ready for preschool. I tried sending my now 7 yr old when he was 3, he showed all signs of readiness EXCEPT he still napped. It was a disaster. The next year, at age 4, he was a different child and 100% ready for school. Good luck!
Hi. I recommend waiting until January and the morning session in the preschool, apart from anything else he is still young. If he needs a nap it is almost impossible to adjust the sleeping pattern and I have tried a number of occassions, it will work for a small while and theres nothing to say that he wont revert to his origonal patterns again. I'm sure your son is perfectly happy with the company he has, he will have plenty of years with others your company and his routine certainly appears to be suiting him ... why would you want to fix whats not broken. Enjoy the extra months you have with him and allow him to enjoy his life as it is. Best of luck
Having worked at preschools, just to mention most of them have a little nap time in the afternoon. I know kindergarten does not. So if you are sure you aren't paying somewhere to let him sleep go for it, otherwise if you are able to to keep him at home why not. Sounds like you are doing all sorts of things for socializing.
Knowing how much better my life is, and that of my children, when they get enough sleep, I would choose to not disrupt the sleep schedule. Have you looked into any moms groups in your area to help your child make some friends? They usually have a variety of activities each month, so there are sure to be some you would be able to attend. My oldest made some good friendships with kids near his age (and so did I!) after we moved here and did not know anyone. In our area (NW Indiana) there is MOMS Club, MOPS, and Mothers and More. I am sure you could locate one of these in your area by searching online. Just another option, if you have your heart set on the preschool you have chosen and can't get him in a morning class until January.
I think it's bizarre that a preschool would offer a 3 year old class from 12-3. The vast majority of 3 year olds are still napping at this time. (Not my kid, but that's another story).
I would look into another preschool. Or wait for an opening at that one. He does have 2 more years before kindergarten so there isn't a hurry.
I'd wait another year. If he's happy, let him be.
I would keep his nap and see about a waiting list for the AM class. My first child took a nap all the way through kindergarten and my second gave up his naps before he was three. If he is still napping it is because he still needs it so let him nap.As you say if he doesn't get his nap the rest of the day doen't go well.
pick a different preschool. In my opinion a preschool that has an afternoon class for 3 yr olds doesn't understand the importance of sleep on the growth and development of a child.
I would also be moving his bedtime earlier, he needs 12 hours at night and another 2 hours at nap at that age, and until he is 5 he still needs that much.
You will hear plenty of moms telling you their child gave up naps at 2 or 3 or whatever. But as a child development expert I don't agree with that.
My daughter started Preschool at 2 ½ to help her develop social skills since she’s an only child. She already knew her ABC’s, 123’s, and was potty trained so our pediatrician told us that pre-school wasn’t necessary for development but we knew she wasn’t playing nice on the rare opportunity she got to interact with other kids. Well, preschool has been wonderful for her. She loves the other kids and comes home to tell me what so and so did that day. Her social skills now match her academic skills and she’s a better child due to it.
However, she comes home exhausted on those days. Her typical nap is also at 1 and she gets out of pre-school at 11:45 am. Those days she can’t even make it through lunch. So, if your son is like my daughter he’s going to need those naps even more when he goes into preschool. I would not alter my child’s natural sleep pattern for preschool because I feel their body tells them what they need. I agree with the PP, get on the waitlist for the morning program or even pick a different preschool until the one you really want opens up.
3 year olds usually still need naps. I would try to adjust his schedule so he takes a nap around 3pm when he's home from preschool. Good luck!
If your son's sleeping schedule is giving him everything he needs, do not "upset the apple cart!!" Remember how hard you worked to get him into a good sleeping schedule? Especially at this age, his healthy sleep is as important to his health as eating a balanced, healthy diet. I have a daughter in 3 year old preschool and can personally attest (from my opinion, of course) there is absolutely no reason a child "needs" to be in 3 year old preschool. It's just a fun activity, without Mommy, that allows them to be in larger groups of people. They learn simple rules (When the teacher puts her hand up, it's time to quiet down. When the music goes on, it's time to clean-up, etc.) This can wait a semester! Maybe you can take this extra semester as one last chance for a program/class together (music, tumbling, etc.) I would not wreak havoc on his beautiful schedule, just for one semester of 3 year old preschool.
I would find a morning preschool. If you live in Oak Park or River Forest or near there, Mosaic Montessori is great. They have a program that goes from 8.30 to 11.45 for his age group and they likely have some openings for the fall. Lectura is another good option that I know has openings. Otherwise I would wait until he can get a morning slot. A child without his nap can be awful and it won't be any fun for him at all. Afternoon preschool for a 3 yr old seems like a pretty odd idea, since so many children that age nap somewhere around 12-2. Most don't loose their nap until 4. Good luck.
no way. not worth it. why they would even offer preschool at that time of day is ridiculous. at this age kids need a nap. he would be fine to wait till january. or look into a different preschool. i would never send my child to preschool right in the middle of naptime. and waiting till three to go down for a nap is completely unreasonable. nope.
There are lots of great preschools around. I wouldn't stress about the school itself, just find another that has openings in the morning. If he's so set on his afternoon nap, I don't know that I'd force him out of it. He'll grow out of it when his body is ready.
Make sure you are on the wait list for the morning class, it is still early enough, that chances are good that he will get in. There are always cancellations. My daughter is almost 4 and still naps, I say don't mess with a good thing!
how many days a week is he going?? If its only two I would play it by ear. I say that because you might realize he doe fine at school and maybe those days will require an earlier bed time. My son got into the afternoon class too and I was worried at first but then I realized either way this will be good for him. If I have too put up with a cranky boy for a couple hours after he gets home oh well at least he had/could/maybe had fun today!!
