Midafternoon hits and I’m tired, so tired that I contemplate a nap. I push through, however, and get a second wind- look out laundry, here I come! This doesn’t happen everyday, but when it does I remember a story my mother told me. After my first day of kindergarten, I arrived home in tears. Mom, concerned, hugged me and asked what was the matter. Crying, I said, “Mama, I’m so tired…(sob) I just want to go to bed!” Daily naps were a part of the routine in my home, and also in my kindergarten classroom. Maybe because of the excitement of the first day of school, the other kids or the two inches of cushion separating me from that hard floor (I still remember the smell of that vinyl mat…), I didn’t nap that day. One thing was certain, though, my five year old self was in desperate need of some sleep.

Studies on the importance of sleep have been done and re-done. It seems that, at times, we are obsessed with sleep or the lack of it. And, maybe we should be….Not everyone requires the same amount of sleep but infants and young children require more than adults, and quality sleep is necessary for brain development. So, how do we get that quality sleep? A routine can help establish healthy patterns of sleep for children (and adults). The routine may begin with the evening meal, and continue through clean up, bath time, tooth brushing, stories or lullabies and finish with a snuggle. Whatever routine you have with your child should be individualized. Not every child calms with a book or bath. Keeping a routine consistent for at least two weeks will give you an idea of what may or may not work.

During my time as a preschool teacher, I cherished nap time. No, I didn’t nap, but the children did. The soft sounds of breathing, and sometimes snoring, were comforting and soothing. Nap time gave my co-teachers and me a chance to rest our own bodies and recharge our minds. Well, rest is a generous word for a preschool teacher during nap time, but we weren’t moving as much or as quickly as when the children were awake. From my own observations, the children who napped generally smiled more, cried less, and recovered from upset faster than the few who didn’t nap (there was always one or two).

What are you like when you’ve had enough rest or sleep? Do you smile more, cry less and recover from upset quickly? Are you more productive?