The idea of dropping my child’s nap was unimaginable to me. So much that when my newly 3-year-old daughter started showing signs it was time to give up the nap, I was not having it. I went against all of my own expert advice as I couldn’t fathom my day without that 2-hour chunk of “Me Time”. That daily break was my chance to relax, check a few things on my to-do list, or work without being interrupted. Mostly, I try and do something for myself as I’m a way better mom when I’ve made my needs a priority.
After going through the “Is My Child Ready To Drop The Nap” checklist multiple times, I knew it was time. So what was my game plan going to be? I knew giving up my “Me Time” was not an option. Quiet Time to the rescue!
What is Quiet Time and Why is it Beneficial?
Quiet time is a small period of time during the day where your child (and you!) spend time doing quiet activities independently. That’s right, they are in their room or a designated childproofed area playing alone.
This is a set amount of time for unstructured play. Your child might read books, draw, play with Legos or blocks. The most amazing part about Quiet time is their imagination will be in full swing. In a world full of sports practices, art & music classes, and screen time, we unintentionally schedule so much of our kids’ day. That’s why one of my favorite things to say to my kids when they tell me they are bored is “boredom leads to creativity. It’s good for you”.
Research also shows that more unstructured time helps develop a child’s self-directed executive functioning. That’s right, allowing your kids space and time each day to play, imagine, create all on their own actually helps their brain development.
Quiet time also allows children the opportunity to rest and recharge. For years, my own son came home from school and was spent. He had just played, learned, engaged, and concentrated for hours. He needed a snack and a little downtime before I asked him to do his homework or get ready for soccer practice. Keep reading to find out where I put his Quiet Time now that he’s 9.
Quiet Time Tips & Tricks For Toddlers and Kids
Get a clock. Toddlers and preschoolers do well with a visual indicator letting them know how long they have until Quiet Time is over. Kirot makes a few great options.
Start slow and build. Start with 15-20 minutes and build up to an hour or so increasing 10-15 minutes at a time and adding time every 3-4 days until you are at your desired length of time. I suggest 45-60 minutes.
Rotating bins. Having a few toys set aside just for Quiet Time is a great way to get kids excited about the transition. I suggest trying Legos, blocks, Magna Tiles, art supplies, dolls, books, or audiobooks.
Have firm, clear boundaries. Kids need to know exactly what is expected of them so spend time setting them up for success with the do’s and don’t’s. For a little extra incentive and “Me Time”, I allow my kids 30 minutes of screen time immediately following Quiet Time if they’ve followed the rules. It’s a win-win.
When To Schedule Quiet Time
I find Quiet Time to be the perfect replacement for naptime so 1or 1:30 works well for 3-5-year-olds.
For school-aged kids, I recommend doing it shortly after they get home from school or even right before bed.
As my own 9-year-old son became more involved in sports and activities it became harder to fit Quiet Time in regularly. I still felt it was really important for him to have time to decompress and use his imagination. And, it coincidentally happened at a time when he was no longer ready to go to bed at the same time as his 5-year-old sister.
The solution was allowing him to have 30-45 minutes of Quiet Time right before bed. I tuck his little sister in, go into his room and we read books together and set him free for his own “Me Time”. He was so excited about the new change and used to time to draw, play with Legos and listen to audiobooks until the designated “lights out” time.
A huge advantage for me is that I was able to be downstairs to enjoy some downtime before 8 pm.
Conclusion
When your kiddo is ready to give up the nap, implement Quiet Time
Quiet Time is self-care and has huge benefits for kids and parents, especially during the last year of chaos
It takes time and consistency, but the payoff is huge
It’s a time that can grow with your child and be incorporated into different parts of the day as their schedules change
I’m not only here to share tips and tricks for Quiet Time. My real passion is helping families get the sleep they need. Just hit ‘reply’ if you’re in the midst of bedtime battles or multiple night wakings and we can hop and a call to talk about a solution.