Key Takeaways

  • Preschool nap routines are based on consistency, predictable transitions, and a calming environment.
  • Repeated cues such as dimmed lights, soft music, and quiet activities before rest time can help children settle down.
  • Create a similar setup at home, with the same time, same order, and same signals to create a routine.
  • Match the sensory environment (temperature, lighting, sounds, and comfort items) to reduce naptime resistance.
  • Set clear expectations, offer independence-building strategies, and ensure calm transitions for a more successful outcome.

Naptime at preschool may be the picture of relaxation: kids settling down on their mats with their comfort items, lifting to soft music and drifting instantly off to sleep. So how come it doesn’t work like that at home? Your kids may resist naps, get up repeatedly, or struggle to calm down.

There’s a silver lining: you can make home naptime as successful as preschool naptime. There isn’t really anything magical behind it. The real solution is to create consistency, structure, and a carefully-prepared environment. You can recreate the setting of preschool naptime at home with a few adjustments.

Stick to a Schedule

Preschoolers crave routine. In the classroom, everything follows a consistent daily rhythm. From snack time to play time to learning time, these things happen at a set time every day. Predictability cues kids’ internal clocks, helping their bodies naturally wind down at nap time.

You can try this at home by:

  • Setting a consistent nap time and sticking to it, even on weekends.
  • Maintaining a predictable pre-nap routine, such as bath, water, book.
  • Avoid long or late naps that extend bedtime too late.

Use Transitional Cues

Your child’s teachers likely set aside time for calm, quiet activities right before naptime to set the stage for sleepiness. You can do this at home by:

  • Turning off screens at least a half before naptime.
  • Managing household noise levels.
  • Using softer lighting.
  • Reading quietly together.
  • Playing the same calming song each day.

Create a Consistent Resting Space

In the classroom, each child has their own designated space with a mat and their comfort items. When in this environment of comfort and predictability, they are better able to settle down for a rest with no distractions.

You can do this at home by:

  • Keeping their napping area quiet with no external stimuli.
  • Using blackout shades or curtains.
  • Giving them a comfort item, such as a blanket or stuffed animal.
  • Playing white noise or soft instrumental music.

The naptime space should only be used for daytime rests, not for raucous play or loud activities.

Match the Sensory Environment

Preschools benefit from sensory details that support calmness. You can achieve this at home by incorporating the same principles:

  1. Lighting: Turn off the main lights and use natural light, ambient light, or lamps.
  2. Temperature: Keep the nap area slightly cooler, as people in general sleep better in a cool room. Research shows that a cooler room supports the body’s natural thermoregulation abilities, with ideal sleep temperatures range from 60°F to 67°F.
  3. Sound: Gentle music, nature sounds, or white noise can all drown out background activity.
  4. Comfort: Use firm mats with simple bedding, just like they use at school. Too many pillows, blankets, or toys can be distracting.

Set Clear Expectations

Set clear rules for rest time so your child understands what is expected of them while feeling secure and safe at the same time.

Try:

  • Setting clear naptime rules.
  • Offering gentle reminders instead of negotiations.
  • Encouraging your child to settle independently, while remaining nearby for reassurance if needed.

Try a Wind-Down Time

Children can’t switch automatically from energetic play to deep relaxation. They need a few minutes to settle before sleep can realistically come. Do the same at home as soon as naptime starts to roll around. Rub their back and read a quick calming book, but don’t engage them in exciting stories or other distractions.

Keep a Simple Routine

Pre-naptime in the classroom often only lasts a few minutes. Children are told to take out their mats and settle in, the music starts, the lights are dimmed, and music switches on. Do the same at home, keeping the prep time to a minimum of three minutes. Don’t negotiate, and don’t give in to demands for “one more glass of water” or other delay tactics.

Be Patient

Transitions take practice, so be patient when creating a home naptime routine that mimics the classroom’s. Successful naptimes at home can only be expected through daily consistency, gentle structure, and a calming rhythm. If you are still having trouble, ask your child’s preschool teacher for some tips!