Can My Child Skip Their Nap at School?
Understanding the importance of sleep and rest in early childhood, and finding the right balance between daytime naps and nighttime sleep
A day at preschool is filled with movement, play, discovery, and emotions. These experiences are essential for children’s development, but they also require considerable physical, mental, and emotional energy.
At ICCC, parents of 2 or 3 year old children sometimes ask whether their child can skip their afternoon nap, especially when bedtime at home becomes challenging.
We understand these concerns. However, for young children spending 8–10 hours a day at school, a regular opportunity for sleep and rest is an important part of supporting their health, development, and well-being.
How Much Sleep Do Young Children Need?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance, children need:
Age 2: 11–14 hours of sleep per 24 hours, including naps.
Ages 3–5: 10–13 hours of sleep per 24 hours, including naps when needed.
Sleep plays an essential role in brain development, learning, memory, emotional regulation, and physical growth. For most 2-year-olds and many 3-year-olds, a daytime nap remains an important part of meeting their overall sleep needs.
As children grow, their need for daytime sleep gradually decreases. By ages 4–5, many children can comfortably manage without a daily nap.
Why Is Rest Important During a Long School Day?
For young children, a full day at school is both exciting and demanding. Throughout the day, children are learning new skills, interacting with other kids, exploring the environment, and navigating emotions. Even when they are enjoying themselves, their bodies and minds need time to recover.
Adequate sleep also supports children’s ability to concentrate, remember new information, manage emotions, and participate positively in daily activities.
This is why at ICCC rest is an important part of the educational day, not simply a break from learning.
How Do We Approach Nap Time at ICCC?
Our daily routines reflect the different developmental needs of our age groups.
Children aged 2 and 3 years: Scheduled Nap Period
Children in our 2– and 3-year-old groups have a scheduled afternoon nap period. All children are expected to lie down and rest, even if they do not fall asleep. This provides a calm and predictable environment and ensures that children who need daytime sleep have the opportunity to get it.
Children aged 4 and 5 year: 30-Minute Quiet Rest Period
As children grow older, many naturally begin to outgrow their daytime naps. For this reason, our 4– and 5-year-old groups have a 30-minute quiet rest period rather than a scheduled nap. This gives children an opportunity to relax and recharge before continuing with the afternoon’s activities. If they need to rest longer, there is enough flexibility in the environment to accommodate different needs.
Our goal is not to make every child sleep, but to provide age-appropriate rest opportunities within a consistent and supportive daily routine.
Will Skipping the Nap Help My Child Fall Asleep Earlier?
It may seem logical that a child who does not sleep during the day will fall asleep earlier in the evening. However, children’s sleep patterns are more complex. For a child who still needs daytime sleep, skipping a nap can lead to overtiredness, irritability, and difficulties managing emotions later in the day.
At the same time, as children mature, naps that are too long or too late can sometimes delay nighttime sleep. This is why it is important to consider the child’s age, individual sleep needs, and overall daily routine rather than assuming that removing the nap will automatically improve bedtime.
How Can Parents Support Better Bedtime Routines?
If your child is struggling to fall asleep in the evening, a few adjustments at home can make a meaningful difference.
Keep a consistent schedule. Try to maintain regular bedtime and waking times, including on weekends.
Create a calming bedtime routine. Set aside 20–30 minutes for quiet activities such as bathing, putting on pajamas, reading a story, and cuddling.
Limit screen time and high-energy activities before bed. Avoiding screens, loud and energetic play is recommended for at least one hour before bedtime.
Make evenings less stimulating. After a busy school day, quiet play and relaxed family time can help children prepare for sleep.
Plan bedtime around your child’s sleep needs. Consider when your child needs to wake up in the morning and how much sleep they receive during the day.
Working Together for Healthy Sleep
Healthy sleep is a shared responsibility between home and school. By combining appropriate rest opportunities during the day with consistent bedtime routines at home, we can help children feel rested, secure, emotionally balanced, and ready to learn.
Snezhana Daneva is a Director at ICCC since September 2010. She gained experience in teaching, marketing and client relations, as well as cultural diplomacy and regional project management after a diverse career at the British Council in Bulgaria and in the UK. She worked as a volunteer in not-for-profit organizations related to child birth and child care.
Snezhana has MA in Education Management and MA in English and American Studies from Sofia University, and Management Certificate and Diploma from Open University, UK. Her recent Education Management degree thesis focused on children’s social-emotional development in the early years, comparing government standards and practice in Bulgaria and in the United Kingdom.