By:
TeriMaxwell
on 6/18/2004 9:06:38 PM
Dear Supermaam,
I found with our schedule that I could make up a schedule for the school year and it generally it didn't need to be readjusted until summer - that included the time when I had five children ages 7 and under. If nap needs changed mid year, I would simply adjust that part of the schedule.
In your example, I would put the 3 year old to bed later or get him up earlier so that he would take/need the length nap you want for the afternoon. If that isn't possible, then I would adjust the nap time to what suits him so that he falls asleep soon after you put him to bed. Then you will know when you can do something at nap time. Of course, that means adjusting the one year old so that he will have a nap during the same time the 3 year old does.
For me, I wanted all the napping children to go for their naps soon after lunch - sometime between 1 and 2. Then, according to sleep needs I woke them up in the afternoon. There were days when someone woke up early, maybe because of being sick. However, the majority of the days scheduled nap time allowed me about two hours to accomplish tasks I couldn't do with the children up.
A schedule, especially with several young children, including babies is a bit like a puzzle in fitting the pieces together. Maybe we could say it is like an interactive puzzle because parts of it need changing from time to time. However, with a change like the nap schedules, that should last for several months before it needs to be changed again. The time invested in figuring out and making the necessary changes is minimal compared to the difficulties trying to wing it without a schedule brings.
Trusting in Jesus,
Teri Maxwell
