Preschool-Aged Children and the All-Important Nap
If you’ve ever tried reasoning with a overtired, cranky preschooler who is in need of a nap, you already know that naps aren’t just a luxury—they’re essential. During the early years of their development, a daily nap is more than a little rest break for children (and their caregivers); it’s critical–impacting them emotionally, intellectually, and physically, as well.
Keep reading to understand the research behind a preschooler’s all-important nap! As well as to look at some ways you can help it be a successful daily occurrence–whether at home or within daycare or childcare!
Give us a call here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center to chat about our nap time routines and times!
1. Fuel Brain Development
The fact that young children’s brains are like sponges is an age-old saying, and it’s true! Children are constantly observing, absorbing, and processing everything within their world, organizing it into new information and gleaning new facts simply by what they see.
A truly beautiful truth is that learning isn’t limited to their active hours! Research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that children who napped after learning new tasks showed significantly better memory recall than those who stayed awake [source]. Preschooler’s brains take the break to consolidate and solidify what they’ve learned, in turn giving them a stronger foundation in everything they’re being taught within their early childhood education.
Call today and ask how we structure our days here at CCLC! From naptime, instruction time, and play time…our children are always learning here!
2. Improve Emotional Regulation
As preschoolers are soaking up information and learning about their world, they are also learning about themselves and how to navigate the big feelings that they have. Like with adults, sleep helps children also be more emotionally resilient. There is something about a tired body and mind that can sometimes send reasoning and critical thinking out the window, as well as just make you feel junky. Naps simply aid in ensuring that preschoolers are well-rested. The Journal of Sleep Medicine has found that insufficient sleep for preschool-aged children is associated with poor emotional functioning, irritability, and poor reactivity [source].
Naps don’t just help center and provide rest to children, but rather, preschooler naps are a beneficial to all–providing rest for the body of the growing child and quiet time for the adult in charge. This quiet time has been shown to help with the emotional regulation and patience of the teacher, parent, or caregiver, as well [source].
Here at CCLC we know that naps are beneficial to all! Schedule a tour today and chat with our early childhood educators about naptime in their classrooms.
3. Support Physical Growth
According to the National Sleep Foundation, preschoolers need 1-13 hours of sleep for proper growth and overall healthy [source]. Skipping naps can interfere with this, particularly for kids who don’t sleep long enough at night. An interesting fact– The growth hormone somatotropin is primarily secreted during deep sleep. As children are always growing–and growing a lot–proper sleep is essential.
Schedule a tour here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center and let’s chat about how we can help support the growth and learning of your little one.
4. Promote Learning in Childcare and Daycare Environments
In structured daycare and childcare programs, naps aren’t just downtime—they’re part of a daily rhythm that helps everything run smoothly. According to Early Childhood Research Quarterly, scheduled nap periods in childcare settings improve attention span, behavior, and the ability to participate in group learning [source]. A predictable nap routine helps children with the transition from active learning to restful recharge and back again.
Call today to visit us here at CCLC. We would love to show you our outdoor play areas, classrooms, and give you a chance to see how our days flow here.
5. Establish Healthy Sleep Habits for Life
Consistent nap schedules in the early years of life help support the development of lifelong sleep hygiene habits. These routines will in time help children recognize their body’s needs, improving sleep quality for naps and overnight sleep. Healthy Children.org recommends that predictable sleep routines can help children learn and understand what comes next, easing the transition as well as signaling the brain that it is time for sleep.
Come see us here at CCLC to see and chat about our naptime routines and practices.
Tips for Encouraging Restful Naps for Preschoolers
- Create a dimly lit and quiet nap environment.
- Encourage consistent nap times, even on weekends.
- Avoid overstimulation leading up to naptime.
- Read a short story or play calming music to ease the transition.
Embrace the Nap!
In the world of early childhood education, naps are not simply a break from learning—they’re an important part of learning and the learning process. Whether at home, childcare, or daycare, supporting restful, regular naps can foster the foundation to allow preschoolers to better focus, regulate their emotions, and grow. Don’t think naps are just a break for the adults, embrace the nap knowing they truly help children thrive!
Come visit us here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center. We would love to share how we do naps, schedules, and learning with you and see how we can support your little one’s early childhood education.