Why Preschools Need To Let Them Nap

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Sep 29, 2013

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We’ve heard about the benefits of midday power naps leaving us with an increase in creativity, alertness and memory upon waking up. So it makes sense kids would also benefit from a little afternoon snooze.

From learning their ABC’s to some serious finger painting sessions, preschoolers have a pretty busy day at school. Though there are plenty of breaks like recess, snack time and quiet time, some new research suggests it may be beneficial to really encourage these kids to sleep rather than just rest at nap time. And for the schools that have eliminated naptime all together, it may be a good idea to rethink this.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that kids ages 3 to 5 had a greater ability to remember lessons from earlier in the day when they took a nap. According to the study, kids who napped before being tested were 10% more accurate in recalling pictures they had viewed earlier in the day than the kids who were kept awake.

Though it may be beneficial for their learning process, not all kids in this age group want to take a midday nap. Dr. Judith Owens, director of sleep medicine at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, is quoted in the New York Times explaining “By age 5, about 80 percent of kids have given up a nap — that means one in five still napping.”

What do you think of the recent study suggesting preschoolers have a greater ability to recall lessons when they have a nap?

Does your preschooler still have a midday snooze? Do you think schools should encourage nap time for kids ages 3 – 5?