My little girl is starting to grow up. She’s got chores and responsibilites that she does all by herself now. So, when I tell her “You’re growing up Emma!” she says things like “Does that mean I can get married now?” or “That means I don’t need to take naps like babies, right?” She may be big and an important member of the family now, but she has yet to outgrow her need for a nap- or find the need for a husband…. even though she is SURE she has found the one.

This winter we began to have nap problems. Her mind just would not slow down. I would put her down for a nap. Up and down Up and down she would go. Bathroom trips, banging on the wall, singing songs. I started to get frustrated! I felt like I was on the defense (not a good place for a parent to be) and was daily dealing with a new reason she could not settle down and rest.

So, I decided I can’t force her to sleep…. but I can give her clear rules of what TO do during her naps… Emma knows her letters and sounds, but being a pre-sign reader I figured I should use pictures and words to get the point across.
I got a black piece of construction paper (to represent sleep/night) and drew in white crayon, with corresponding pictures:

1. No Noise
2. Head On Pillow
3. Lay Still

We went over the rules so I knew she fully understood, and we taped the sign on the wall next to her bed. So sometimes, before nap I say something like “You don’t HAVE to sleep, but what are the things you must do?” She recites her rules, and after I am gone she has the visual reminder on the wall.
While I had to enforce the rules a few times – she wanted to see if I was serious …..We have found SLEEPING SUCCESS!

It’s amazing! She sleeps most of the time now- and mom and daughter are not grouchy in the evening due to lack of rest.

I’m already devising where I can post other instructions WITH visuals pictures to make our family life run smoother.

Linked over at Works For Me Wednesdays