I Need Some QUIET TIME Suggestions.

We use books on tape from the library and some activity books, and we have no problem getting my daughter to stay in her room. She usually asks to stay longer. Every kid is different, but if you find something they really enjoy it might not be too hard to get them to stay.

when my 3yo stopped napping I explained to her that if she doesn't want to go to sleep, then she had to quietly play indpendently for 1-1/2 hours. This meant look at books, play puzzles, color, draw or do some pages in her workbooks.

For some reason, she did not argue.
It was easy to get her comply.

I'd set a timer and told her when the timer goes off we would go to the park, play outside, or go to x, y or z place etc.

Meanwhile, I had some 'quiet' time to shower, exercise, clean, study- WHATEVER. lol- still is never enough haha!

We just started this too and I thought I was going to cry without his nap! I didn't realize how much we needed that "downtime".

Our little guy will nap at daycare, but on the weekends he just wants to be with us, so now that he doesn't always "need" a nap, he has decided that he won't take one! I got some great advice from a neighbor and it actually worked:

1. Take "noisy" or "physical" toys out of the bedroom so that the bedroom is for sleeping and quiet play time. Load up on books (from the library), puzzles and stuffed animals.
2. Every day at whatever time, announce "it's rest time" and (at least in the first week or so), make that apply to everyone.
3. Kiddos off to their rooms for "quiet play"- be specific... books, puzzles or cuddling. My son likes to have his music on so we taught him how to do that himself and preset the volume and station to classical.
4. Everyone is quiet during "rest time"... including the adults (until the kids are into the routine). Read a book, magazine, pay bills, do your nails- whatever- as long as it is quiet and mirrors your expectation of them.

There was a lot of "it's rest time, you need to go into your room" for the first two weeks and it was not restful for any of us, but now he's pretty into it. We go to the library every week so his book collection rotates.

We do 30-45 minutes at the most. Good luck!

In the bedroom and only books, puzzles, etc for O. hour? I used to let my son watch O. movie for about an hour.
It's a SAD day when the naps (that MOMS need so much) go south. :(

I have a 4 yo, 3 yo and a almost 6 mo. I have the older ones in separate rooms (just for nap time) and they have to stay in there 1 1/2 to 2 hours. They still often take naps but it is not an option to have quiet time in our house. Both of mine have tried to give it up at a point, but they weren't allowed to and after a few days stopped trying. I just made "quiet time" boxes for each room since we don't allow toys in their rooms. They get to pick out 5-6 independent and quiet games, puzzles and toys (like matching, dominos or tanagrams) and they can do that during nap time if they chose, but they know both of us need breaks. We try to keep it about the same time every day and they also do better with that. They get up so much more refreshed even when they don't sleep and I definitely have more patience. Good luck! You can do it:)

Puzzles, coloring, watercolor painting(put 1/4 inch water in cup), tea party for dolls, train ride, fort, reading quietly in bed etc. We do a quiet hour where they can do anything they want as long as its quiet and i can do what I need to do.
As far as explaining, you say--Ok, its quiet time for everyone- we are going to use our whisper voices and find something to do that is quiet. Let be like quiet little mice....then show them some things they can do.
M

You don't have to elimitnate nap time, just adjust it by cutting it in half. In the eveing put the babies to bed first. When they are sleeping its bedtime for the 6 year old.

While you wait for the babies to fall asleep you can have quite time with the 6 year old, ie read books, play a board game, talk about his day. This may help you and give your older child some alone time with Mommy.

Good luck with your lil ones

My daughter just gave up her nap at 2.5, and I am hating it, she was my 3 hour napper, and it gave me so much time to accomplish stuff, which now does not get accomplished!
Quiet time never worked for any of my children, I just got MOOMM!ed all the time, now I just put on a tv show they like or a movie, and I can get some stuff done like that. I get about an hour's peace.
I also take her to mother morning out 1 morning a week.

anywhere from half an hour to an hour and a half is good (the latter might be too long for a lively young 'un but it's still a good goal!) i think quiet time is a brilliant transitional device for the sad day that naps become obsolete.
keep the rules very simple. it has to be quiet. don't impose too many 'you musts' or 'you may nots.' doesn't matter if they're reading or playing a quiet stuffed animal game or drawing, so long as they're quiet and...er.....not destroying stuff.
set a timer or get a sand hour glass and let them know when they can come out.
khairete
S.

My son will still take naps on days we do alot in the morning or he has school (he is 3 yrs. and goes to school 3 mornings a week) He goes after he eats lunch. But on days we don't do much just hang around the house he does "Quiet time" after lunch...he goes up to his room and watches a movie. It works out well for both of us he gets to watch one of his movies and just relax in his bed ... sometimes I say he can play and watch it...and I still a good hour 1/2 of "me time" So you could try that :) Hope that helps good luck!!!

Hi, S.:
Who is available to help you with the children?
If you are talking about a 2 and 3 year old, I regret to inform you,
that you need help to have piece and quiet.

Training them is a major event. I won't shuttle them off in a room by themselves. Why is their noise bothering you?
Just want to know.
D.