Nap Time is Beneficial

One thing that is an issue in early childhood education is the doing away with nap time for kindergartners because it cuts into the academic day.Nap time is an extremely important part of a kindergartners day at school. They are still at that age where they have so much energy and they begin to crash after lunch time. Nap time gives the students a chance to unwind and rest their bodies and also their minds. Pediatricians recommend that kindergarten age children receive a minimum of 10 hours of sleep each night. Many children do not get anywhere close to this appropriate amount of sleep. According to the book, American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Sleep: Birth Through Adolescence , "Children who chronically fail to get enough sleep do not learn as well as better-rested youngsters. They also have a higher rate of behavior problems. In many cases, overtired children resort to hyperactivity and difficult behavior as a way of fighting off daytime drowsiness" (Cohen, 1999). Nap time also provides the student's with a routine so they know what to expect and can make them in a better mood when they wake up. When I was in kindergarten, I never slept at nap time, but I enjoyed the chance to be quiet and be still and have a chance to unwind from my long day at school. Even if a child does not want to take a nap they can at least lay their head down and relax or read a book. Not only are nap times important for student's they are also beneficial for the teacher as well. During nap time, a teacher can unwind and take a break from the busy day for themselves as well. They are constantly up and running around, tending to the needs of their students. They rarely get a chance to sit down. So not only is nap time beneficial for students, but also teachers. It should be kept in schools for these purposes.

Citations:
Cohen. American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Sleep: Birth Through Adolescence. 1999.