To nap or not to nap? What do you think?

[abaici]

Originally posted by Dionysus
Lawd have mercy yall old! I wasn't even born when you all were in kindergarten.

Now you KNOW you ain't (yep, ain't) right fa dat!!!

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by abaici
Now you KNOW you ain't (yep, ain't) right fa dat!!!

I'm still CTFU at Dio's comment, though. I'm almost 40. I'm not skurred to admit it.

[Taykimson]

Soon the government will be at your birthing bed to scoop up your child and dictate how they will live their lives from Day 1.

[lil_sunshine]

BOO HISS @ the school officials that think that nap time should go!!!! Nap time is a time when kiddies can relax and rejuvenate and the teacher can find some "me" time to do different things. If any school officials decide to extend the school day for pre-schoolers, they should include another recess and keep naptime. Taking away these things would increase the chance of a child losing his/her innocence as far as carefree days are concerned. The only things 4 year-olds should worry about are their ABC's, 123's, playtime and naptime. As long as they're learning, that's all that matters.

[msn4med1975]

The children DEFINITELY need naps. I would hate to be picking up a cranky four year old after a full day of school. Heck everyone needs mandatory naps, right after lunch if I had my way. Doesn't make any sense to be running around all day cause we know we aren't sleeping well at night. That's just CRAZY. If they get rid of naptime I think the powers that be need to be responsible for handling a ROOM full of tired and pissed off children.

[mu_agd]

one of my good friends teaches kindergarten that is all day and he doesn't give them nap time. i was shocked when i heard htem say that. when i went it was half day and we had a small naptime/break thing. man, i wish i had naptime at work now!

[FeeFee]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Let me ask this because I am not a parent. Is pre-K in public schools or is this still day care? If it is still day care, there are some babies who are there from 6 in the morning til 6 in the evening. They need at least 2 naps for a 12 hour day. Their learning attention span is not very long at all. Shoot most adults have like a 15 minute attention span.

They have pre-K in the NYC school system as well as in day care.

Let the babies sleep!!! Shoot, by 2:30, I'm begging for a nap.

A well rested child is a productive child.

[nikki1920]

What Hornsby seems to be neglecting (and I live in PG county, MD) is that children's minds, at that age, are not built to take in a lot of information without some down time. Without a nap, their little brains wont retain a good portion of what they've learned during the day. I would like to see what other developmental professionals have to say about this issue.

As a parent of a kindergartner, I say let the 4 year olds sleep. I did when I was in preschool. Shoot, I did it when I was in college.. lol.

[BlueReign]

Hornsby is my "super". I can't believe his choice of words, "baby school stuff?" They are babies!!!

[mulattogyrl]

CT4, I know in my area (northern New Jersey), Pre-K is in the public schools. I know as the mother of a five year old kindergartener, she definitely needed a nap in Pre-K. She'd take a nap all day if it was up to me no, but I think we all need naps. Like someone already stated, kids' attention span isn't enough for them to take in a lot of information at once. I think they need a rest in between, especially if I feel I need a rest in between!

[nikki1920]

Originally posted by BlueReign
Hornsby is my "super". I can't believe his choice of words, "baby school stuff?" They are babies!!!

I've about had it with PG Public Schools.

[AKA_Monet]

I am not a parent. But my "Soror Mom" is a Ph.D. in education and was an elementary school principal for many years... Based on her reading and her intepretations, children do need some time during the daytime hours to relax and they also need some time to rip and run.

To put different spin, University of Washington researchers just came out with research about the neurological development in infants to toddlers and how important caring and nurturing interaction is needed for a child to be "sane"--meaning without the use of narcotics to calm his or her ass down... Without that critical interaction, no matter how well the prenatal care was, neurological and psychological "general" development would be severely impaired. Meaning that at age 1.5 the kiddie outta be walking and talking...

The interesting view that I have is, wouldn't the kiddie be extremely tired without a nap when the parent picks them up from school? And as a parent, even though a kiddie would be cranky, at least by the time you'd get them home, they'ed be conked out for the night?

Basically, how fast does it take for these tykes to recharge their batteries??? 45 minutes??? So do you run them ragged before bed, or what?

[southernelle25]

I remember and appreciate those naps in pre-K and kindergarten. As evaclear04 put it, "...studies have shown that taking time to rest during a work day ( adults and children) significantly helps our productivity and our personal health".

So, why scrap nap? I think these measures are attempts on the part of the school systems to make up for their own failures (e.g. low test scores). Instead of employing better teachers and developing improved teaching techniques, these school systems are attempting a very risky 'short cut' and the children are being made to bear the burden of the incompetence of the administrations.

[aephi alum]

So was this guy successful in eliminating nap time?

Disclaimer: I'm not a parent or teacher. I also did not attend full-day pre-K or kindergarten; the school only offered a half-day program.

I'd think 4-year-olds would benefit from nap time. You can't expect a 4-year-old to sit at a desk for six straight hours doing drills. Nap time and recess break up the day. Nap time gives the kids a chance to relax and snooze and not have to process input for a few minutes. If there isn't an official nap time in a full-day program, there's probably going to be an unofficial nap time as kids doze off in mid-lesson.

[southernelle25]

I don't know, but he was successful at losing his job...

"Andre Hornsby left in late May under pressure from a federal investigation into outside contracts. When the new hire is made, it will be the county's third chief in six years. "

http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=573478&nid=316