Quiet time

There is something that I've started with my boys that I think every mother should do. I wonder why some moms don't do this. Recently Will has stopped napping. I love when my children nap but I also understand that at some point that has to end and from what I have read, it's usually around 2 1/2 or 3. So I put Isaac down for his nap and then I put Will in his room for quiet time. It is wonderful.

Sometimes I have him sit in his bed and he will sing to himself or talk to himself. Other times he just has to stay in there and read or play by himself. I make him stay in there for at least one hour. I haven't put quiet music on in his room because I don't have a working CD player right now but I think that would be a good idea too.

I realize that if you have never made your kids take naps or have quiet time that you might think it is impossible to make your kid sit for five minutes. It might be a challenge but I still think every mom should make their kids have quiet time. Will is a good kid when it comes to obeying me. He rarely comes out of his room when I tell him to stay in there. I think some of my other kids will be more difficult but I am going to make them all have quiet time in their rooms.

Aside from the benefits I think they get, I love having that time to myself. My kids don't like to play by themselves that much. They love for me to be with them while they play. But this is a time where they can play all by themselves and I can do anything I want or need (nap when I'm pregnant or mop the kitchen floor). Today I went in after an hour to let Will come out and he was in his room with all his toys dumped out all over and books all over and he had changed into his pj's. He had his blankets down from his bed and said he was sleeping on the floor. I asked if he wanted to come out and he said, "No. I'm playing. You can go out." So I shut the door and he played for another hour! Wonderful. He doesn't stay in there that long every day. Some days he will stay in for the hour and then come out and draw while I fold laundry. Anyway, I would tell every mom to give their kids quiet time!

I found this article online that talked about the benefits of quiet time. I just want to say "Amen" to all of it.

Replacing naps with an hour or so of solo quiet time will not only give you a much needed break during the day but it will also give your child a chance to relax and learn some much needed life skills. To make the transition, you need to be aware of changes in your child's schedule. As soon as you notice them taking shorter naps or having a difficult time settling down for naps, you need to begin preparing for them to end. Depending on your child's schedule, you will need to introduce the idea of quiet time either prior to their nap or immediately after they wale up from it. For a child that is having problems settling down and falling sleep, explain the idea of quiet time before a nap. Instruct them to play quietly in bed with a favorite doll or toy, read a picture book or daydream. For children that wake up early, place quiet toys in their bed or near it for them to play with as soon as they wake up. In either case, it is a good idea to explain to your child that they are to play quietly for a while before coming out of their room. As your child's sleeping time declines, increase the time that they are expected to play quietly in their room. Before long, their entire nap time will be replaced with quiet time.

Benefits:

Self-reliance- children who are given the chance to be alone for short periods of time in a safe setting have better decision-making skills and self-reliance skills than those who are not. During quiet time, children are able to choose what game they want to play, problem-solve to avoid boredom, and rely on themselves for entertainment.

Relaxation skills- quiet time gives children a chance to spend time awake relaxing and moving at a slower pace. The skills they learn during this time will aid them in their adult life when they choose activities for relaxation and mediation.

• Comfort with being alone- being comfortable alone is a skill that your child will need often in their adult life. By starting them out with this concept at a young age, children will learn to be comfortable with themselves and prolonged periods of aloneness.

• Imagination skills- when children are left alone to entertain themselves they have to draw on their imagination skills to come up with activities and games. Too often, children are bombarded by structured activities and games and they do not get the chance to create their own amusements.

• Independence- while allowing your children the option to make their own choices throughout the day will help to foster their independence, having alone time will also help them gain the skills necessary to live an independent life. While they are alone they will be forced to make decisions, although very limited ones, and this skill will help them believe in their decisions and themselves.

Many parents that include quiet time as part of their parenting routine state that they have more responsible, more grounded children. Many children that are introduced to quiet time at a young age continue the practice well into their teen or even adult years. http://www.kidsfirstinternet.org/infoquiettime.html