forcing kids to nap in the afternoon?

it seems a god idea to let eh kids burn energy while playing (physically). It seems the "Age of the gadget" is a sellers dream and parents' nightmare. I wish children would play the way they did before the 1950's. Play sports and other healthy games that burned all the needed calories to keep children healthy. Most of the time, parents do not have the time to personally supervise their children in sports and (non-sedentary) games ... What do you think?

I have a 3 year old and i still force him to nap but It's more like quite time. I tell my 5 year old you need to be quit so your bother can nap. More then likely my 3 year old will go to sleep and so will my 1 year old that still naps two times a day for 2 hours. But this nap only happens two days out of the week when I'm done babysitting at 3.

When I was a kid my mother always ask me to take a nap in the afternoon. Its like an old urban legend that if you will not take a nap, somebody will get you and kidnap you. But i think, the reason behind is that it will grow bigger (its a sort of old belief).

I see parents doing this all the time and I don't think they should force their children to have a nap if the child isn't tired. I think it's just an excuse to give themselves as parents a break during the day. Anytime a parent forces a child to do something against their will, it's called abuse. My hubby was forcing my son to eat everything on his plate even though my son was full. When I took my son to his annual doctor's appointment, the doctor told my hubby never to do that again as that's a form of abuse. My son had to work extra hard to lose pounds to get to an average 8year old's weight. Take care

With both of my children, when they got to the point that I knew that they were not napping in their rooms when I would put them down for a nap I let true napping go to the wayside. What I still do with my son and what I used to do with my daughter is to make them have quiet time for at least an hour during the day. This is the time when I will turn on a show for them to watch and they have to lay on the couch and rest. I can't bring myself to force them to take a nap when they don't want to anymore.

maybe it depends on the situation of the kid. kid is so very hyper, they do very tiring games. taking nap every afternoon will be their rest. but if the kid is very healthy, maybe even he/she's not taking a nap he/she still overcome his/her tiring activities. and i'm sure he/she will have a very tight sleep at nights.

To be honest, I have been where you were. When I became a mother, I didn't realize how tired I got with a little one. I would end up taking naps with them. Nowadays, if they are grumpy or tired I put them to bed. Usually around noon or 1 pm. I let them sleep off the crabbies and I would go about and do what I needed to during the day withouth a little one attatched to my hip. That was also my time to re-energize also. Occasionally, I still take naps with them, but for the most part I let them do it them selves. On the other hand, some days I let them run themselves out so they sleep good at night and I can get to bed early. I won't force them until I have had it and that's the only thing that can get them out of my hair for a bit. We have a 3 almost 4 year old and she is a pain in the rear end sometimes. When she starts doing things and being hateful is when I let her know, it is nap time. She's already a handful and napping sometimes gives me a break. If i have to force her down, I lay her in her bed, close the door slightly and then leave the area. She goes to sleep and she doesn't fight it. Now, if her dad is home it's a whole other story.

I end up forcing myself to take a nap nowadays. I used to be able to stay up all day and night as a kid. now i'm a twenty something man who needs a quick 15 minutes in the middle of the day to recharge his batteries. Where did all my get up and go go?

hi,Forcing cant do anything.And why is it done when kids dont need a sleep.Afternoon nap is not important if the child doesnt feel to sleep.I know in schools the children when they are at 1st or 2nd standards are also made to sleep in the afternoon.As ur mother u know how ur kid feels who other can tell better than u.

I'm sure you know that young kids like your 2-year-old needs long hours of sleep so that they can grow more healthy. Of course, if your child wakes up late in the morning, then maybe you would want to forgo the afternoon nap, or else she may not be able to fall asleep at night.

I am a child care giver. After the lunch the children are expected to take rest to balance their energy level. This does not mean the children must sleep. Reading a book or listening to soft music is also kind of taking rest. in my center after the lunch big children do their homework silently. For small children i make the room a bit dark and ask them not to make noise. When they are tired they sleep automaticaly.

hi evepin, when i was a kid before my father always shouts at me when i don't go to sleep.. before i don't understand the reason why he is doing it to me. so sometimes i go to sleep but when he goes out of the house i wake up... in the end i regret it when i disobeyed his command.. =( because now im small.. if i have been sleeping that days i should be taller now...

Equally for toddler age from 1-10 yrs old, they need approx. 13 hrs of sleeping time in order for them to grow faster and healthy. Kids would be go for nap on his own even they are tired . Unless they are too tired. They need "forcing" and guardian from adult. Parents or Guardian act like a "sleeping pill" for kids.