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trying to keep smiling: quick trick, rest time

home / family life / parenting / behavior management / trying to keep smiling: quick trick, rest time
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rest time | kids need it every dayThis is one Quick Trick that now is worth about a million bucks to me:

I remember the day I actually learned it–way back when Maddy was an infant–I just joined my local MOMS group. I was holding her, the tiny little two-month-old bean she was (yes, early to join a MOMS group, I know, but gosh–the interaction with other speaking human beings was nice!

One of the seasoned mothers came up to me (I didn’t even know her name–or anyone’s for that matter), but she told me this,

I am not one to offer unsolicited advice about how you should take care of your kids, but I will tell you this because I wish someone had told me earlier: if you don’t get that baby used to taking a nap right away, she’ll never do it. And even when she stops sleeping during the day (Gulp! STOP sleeping during the day? When will I sleep?! I remember thinking. . .), you better get her in the habit of having a rest time every single day, even if she’s just playing or reading in her room. You’ll go crazy if you don’t. Especially if you have more kids.

And off she ran, trying to catch her own running, laughing, crumb-covered children, her baby bouncing from her hip. I seem to remember the baby winking at me as his mom darted away, but I could be wrong. I was seriously sleep-deprived at the time. . .

  • So that’s the Quick Trick today; it has worked for me and is something I will use until my kids are asking for the keys to my mini-van. I swear by it–A rest time a day keeps crazy mommy away. Or daddy, depending on who’s home that day.

And this is a rest time away from sisters and brothers, in their own rooms, with books and puzzles close at hand, relaxing music on like at night-time. Cora’s still in her crib, and if she doesn’t nap, she has a pile of books to look at and some dolls to dress and undress. Owen sometimes asks for a few cars, a puzzle, or his Little Einsteins computer, and Maddy plays with dolls, reads books (now she’s into listening to books on CD), or works on puzzles. They all have some water on their nightstands (or for Cora, in a sippy cup), and it’s quiet time for an hour.

Granted, it’s not always quiet, but quiet is the goal. The norm is that after we play a bit after lunch, everyone has rest time in their rooms; whether it’s a short one or a solid hour, like everything we do, depends on the day.

It’s my hour to catch my breath. It’s my planning period, my re-grouping time, sometimes–it’s my salvation. Not to mention that it’s just plain healthy for our little ones to sit down and rest their bodies at some point during the day and to learn to appreciate alone time–we all need it. It’s my daily adult swim.

Thanks for subscribing to teachmama! Have a good one!

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:today we were salad people
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thien-Kim aka Kim

    March 6, 2009 at 5:37 am

    Thanks for this post. I’ve been fighting my daughter on her daily naps. We’ve just instituted quiet time and she’s taking it remarklably well! And I soooo need it.

    Reply
  2. Jessica McFadden

    March 7, 2009 at 1:47 am

    Great tip! So far allowing my almost 3 year old to “look at books” in bed results in a nap about 50% of the time.

    Reply
  3. teachmama

    March 16, 2009 at 11:22 am

    Hope it at least gives you both a tiny bit of quiet time–goodness knows moms need it!

    Reply
  4. Christy

    July 15, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    I really need this, and so do my kids. Thanks.

    Reply

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Have you heard of The National Civics Bee? #ad 

The National Civics Bee is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. 

Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in your community will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

Learn how to bring The National Civics Bee to YOUR community now: https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

Iโ€™m thrilled to have partnered with @mom_select and @civicsbuzz for this exciting campaign! โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ’™

#CivicsBuzz #middleschoolers #teachersofIG #communitypartners
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Oh HEEEEEYYY, @luvvie โ€” did you see that @littletroublemaker made our hallway bulletin board? ๐Ÿ˜‰โ™ฅ๏ธ

(Itโ€™s what Rusty the ๐ŸฆŠ is currently reading.) 

Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

(This is my affiliate link, so when you use it, I will earn a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for using my link and supporting my small business!)

#readingteacher #raiseareader #kidlit #bestbooks #linkinbio
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How can people with dyslexia learn to read? ๐Ÿค”

Here are the 3๏ธโƒฃ elements that reading instruction should contain in order to be most effective for students with dyslexiaโ€”

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #readingteacher #teachreading #dyslexiaawareness
View
Open
Lately when I find four leaf clovers, Iโ€™ve been leaving them. ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿคท๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

So if youโ€™re in Maryland, and you happen upon a lonely, little 4-leafer with very little grass, weeds, or leaves around it, I donโ€™t know WHO tried to set you up for success.

#yougotthis #keepyoureyesopen #itsthelittlethings #kilpattyluck
View
Open
Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

Which professionas are able to make that important determination? 

โ–ถ๏ธ Watch to find out. 

Hit me with the questions you still have about dyslexiaโ€”and know we have a few more posts to go!

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #teachreading #readingteachersofig
View
Open
What are some of the common signs of dyslexia?

Watch to learn and find out!

#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
View
Open
True โœ… or false โŒ?

#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
View
Open
What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia

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