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132  TOPIC 8 QUALITY CARE ENVIRONMENT
(e) Establish a routine so that the child expects to have a nap at certain times;
and
(f) Ensure that nap places are comfortable and clean.
How much daytime sleep do children need? Research has shown that it depends on the age, the child, and the sleep total during a 24-hour period. Table 8.2 gives useful general information on rest times that can be taken into consideration (Mooney, 2013).
Table 8.2: Rest Times for Toddlers and Young Children
Age
Justification
Birth to 6 months
Babies sleep from 10 to 12 hours at night. Thus, they need 3 to 5 hours of sleep during the day. Infants require a total of about 16 to 20 hours of sleep per day. Younger infants sleep on and off around the clock, waking every 2 or 3 hours to eat.
6 to 12 months
Babies at this age sleep about 11 hours at night. Two daytime naps totalling 3 to 4 hours.
Toddlers (1 to 3 years):
Toddlers require 10 to 13 hours of sleep. Afternoon nap is for 1 to 3 hours.
Preschoolers (3 to 5 years):
Preschoolers average about 10 to 12 hours at night, plus an afternoon nap.
School-age (5 to 12 years):
School-age children need about 10 to 12 hours at night.
It is helpful to maintain a consistent routine. Routine helps children to develop internal clocks that run smoothly ensuring healthy living (Mooney, 2013). Additionally, naps are important for several reasons:
(a) Provide much-needed downtime for growth and rejuvenation;
(b) Help keep children from becoming overtired which affect their moods and other activities such as playing with friends; and
(c) Naps enhance alertness and contribute towards childrenÊs creativity, mood, and productivity.
ACTIVITY 8.3
Discuss with friends a nap and rest programme for a childrenÊs learning centre. Discuss matters such as time and place for nap, as well as the environment for naps to take place.
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