Four and five year old children who are in preschool and are very active and restless often have difficulty settling down to take a nap in the afternoon.  Transitioning is hard for many children, especially going from the extreme of the busy preschool classroom to a quiet time.  I encourage teachers who are having difficulty with naptime to try the following routine in their classroom.  

• Start naptime with calming activities to help children settle down.  Start with stretching and other relaxation exercises.   

• Then, tell a familiar story while children have their eyes closed.  

• After the story, sprinkle magic resting dust around the room.  

• Play soft, soothing music during naptime.  

If you have children who still can't settle down, consider finding alternative quiet activities for them to engage in during naptime.

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