[Sharonpomme]

Hi there,

Does anyone else have problems with their Day Care with regards to rest-time?

I have a 4 year old that does not sleep at home, and consequently we have a very easy time at night.

Then she attends day-care, where in their defence try to keep her awake, but sometimes fail. I then have a child who is unable to sleep until very late at night. Often tears and causes stress, then very tired the next day.

Then if she falls asleep, at Kindy then she is not allowed to be woken for 45 minutes. I am told that this is according to regulations!! My daughter is in the pre-school room.

They have to sit/lie for 2 hours on a bed and not allowed to talk!! For goodness sakes this is so frustrating, for us parents who want our children to stay awake. I appreciate that there are some children who need to rest, but they are in for a big shock next year when they start school. No rest at school!! Surely they should be weaning the kids off sleep, as part of the preparations for school.

Is it any wonder my daughter wants to sleep if she is expected to stay on her bed for 2 hours!!

Where are these regulations? Can anyone tell me where to find them? We are in Qld. I have tried but very hard.

I know there are staffing issues involved here, as they need to take breaks.

What legal compromizes can the Day Care Centre take. The director is also very unhelpful about this matter and keeps telling me it is regulations!!!

Thank goodness my daughter is very happy at this centre and her carers are lovely. Otherwise I would be out of there.

Let me know.

[No girls here]

I had exactly the same problem with DS2. We eventually got the day care to agree to quiet play. If he was too noisy he had to help pat the other children to sleep. I'm in NSW so things could be different here.

At the very least could they give her some books to read quietly on the bed so she is less likely to fall asleep?

This post has been edited by No girls here: 18/03/2012, 01:58 PM

[ally0812]

i would request in writing that your daughter not be given the opportunity to sleep. i dont see why she cant read quietly-draw with an adult in the room still. surely this will not disrupt tthe childern who are resting. my day care were good with this once i put my foot down and said DS is NOT TO HAVE A NAP. he now helps the carers with cleaning up- looks at books or does aa puzzle instead

[Sharonpomme]

Hi,
Yes the girls who look after my daughter are very good, they do give her books.

She is crafty, will sneek a sleep in if they are not looking!! So hard for them but just really wish she could be taken off her bed and sit in a chair quietly. Told not allowed as have to be on their beds!!

Probably different in Qld. Just would love to check these regulations for myself!!!

Thanks

[KylieMin0gue]

I could have written your post OP. I have spoken to the centre about DDs rest time and told them that I do not want her to sleep as she doesn't when she is at home, and if she does sleep at daycare, she is up till at least 10pm. They keep assuring me that she doesn't sleep anymore during rest time, yet I ask her everyday and more often than not, DD says she has slept. (And then she also won't sleep till late that night)

I have asked numerous times for the centre not to let her sleep, and now when I ask, the director basically tells me that DD must be lying. Yeah whatever!!

I would have changed centres, but DD starts school in 5 weeks, so I am just biting my tongue till then. (At this time I am also going to switch DS to another centre as I don't want the same thing happening to him in a couple of years)

[farmgal]

I hear you! My 3.5 year old twins are also impossible to get to bed on a Friday after childcare. We dropped daytime sleeps a few months ago...they just don't need one. But they still have one at daycare and it drives me nuts. Friday nights used to be great, they were knackered after daycare, I loved it. Now it is the opposite and I loath Friday nights. I have spoken to the ladies at daycare, but they still seem to let them sleep...grrr

Good luck with your daughter!

[Belu]

The regulations have just changed for the entire child care industry making the states all come into line. You'd be looking for the Education and Care Services National Regulation - check out the ACECQA website for a run down.

My understanding is that children need to be offered the opportunity to rest. This means that they need a bed put out, sheets put on it and then they can be asked to lie on it. At my centre we have at least half a dozen children who are not sleepers and their parents don't want them sleeping. We put their beds out, and offer them the opportunity to rest on them. We also offer them the opportunity to do quiet activities.

Two hours is rediculous, challenge your daughter's carers to lie on a bed for that long without anything to do or being able to move.

[Owl_Little_Girls]

My DD was like this last year. I was also told about the 45min regulation as well, as apparently they are no allowed to wake a sleeping child before this?

I asked for DD just to have quiet time rather then be resting on a rest bed. She read quietly or did some drawing while they slept. Not a problem at all.

She also didn't have a sleep at home.

[Sharonpomme]

Thanks everyone,

I know I am not alone here. It was on TV a while ago about sleep, Is it for the children or for the carers!!!

I will check out the site you have given me.

I am lucky that the carers are doing their best to keep my daughter awake, within the rules that the director has told them.

Just such a shame this is made so hard for so many of us!!

[Caseymay]

Is she at an ABC centre? Sounds very much like what some of the staff used to tell parents when I worked at one.

Firstly I would challenge the director to show you these regulations in print. Not just from a centre manual either but from accreditation documents.

Next I would put it in writing that your daughter is not to sleep and hand a copy to the director and the staff of the room that your daughter is in.

If all this still fails I would be asking for the phone number of the regional manager and speak to them (if there is one).

To help your daughter could you get a few colouring in books and some crayons and pack them with her sheets? That way after she has rested quietly for 10 minutes and when most of the children who are going to sleep are already asleep she has something to keep her occupied? You really shouldn't have to do this though. Centre staff should be providing quiet activities and hopefully they will once you talk to them (again).