Many daycares have a structured nap time at some point in the day, which is valuable for giving the children a chance to rest for a period of time. The transition to daycare is an exciting time, and each day is packed with fun things to do. This can result in the children getting tired, but napping will recharge their batteries. Some children are fussy about nap time and may cry as soon as nap time begins. If your child sometimes behaves in this way at home, you may have some concerns about how they will fare during the daycare's nap time. Be sure to cover these topics with the staff.

Letting The Child Cry

Don't be afraid to ask the daycare staff about its policies surrounding children who cry at nap time. Some parents believe in the value of letting the child cry for a period of time without rushing to the rescue, while others intervene right away. There's not necessarily a right answer here — you just need to find a daycare that has a similar philosophy to you. For example, if you generally let your child cry for five minutes in the hope that they will give up and fall asleep, it's ideal if your chosen daycare has a similar mentality.

Response To Crying

There are many different ways that parents respond to a child crying at the start of nap time, so you'll want to think about your go-to method and talk to the daycare about its approach. For example, you might try to comfort the child without getting them up. Maybe you read a book quietly or sing a little song, or perhaps you rub the child's back. It's ideal to choose a daycare that is quick to suggest that its staff will perform these steps as a way to deal with a crying child.

Other Potential Activities

As a parent, there are likely times that your child won't stop crying at nap time, so you decide to get them up to do something else. Talk to the daycare about what other options might be available. For example, even if the rest of the group is napping, a staff member may be happy to get your child up and perhaps quietly do some coloring with them. When you can confirm that the daycare shares a similar approach to dealing with nap time crying, you'll feel confident in its ability to provide the right type of care for your child.

For more information, contact a daycare center like Carousel Of Learning Pre-School & Nursery.