do you do "quiet time" with your kids?

Question

My mother claims to have come up with this, and i use it with my own kids. basically, everyone goes to their own rooms and gets on their bed. and they can do anything they want, read, do a puzzle, watch a movie, play with dolls, as long as they don't make any noise. Most times they go to sleep.

I used it to replace "nap time" when my two year old began insisting he "wasn't sleepy none!" when he clearly was.

do you do quiet time? Do you call it something else?
What do you do during this time? lay down in your room? do some housework? watch a movie that you don't let your kids watch?

Answer 1

Yeah! We do "quiet time" and we call it "quiet time." We started it as a replacement for naptime when our eldest decided she didn't want to nap anymore -- the rule is that she has to be in her room and play silently if she isn't going to sleep. We've used it with the subsequent kids as well. Right now, we have a 3-year-old who usually naps but when she refuses to nap, she knows that from 1.30 until 3 she has to be quiet in her room, whether she wants to sleep or play or whatever she wants.

I usually spend quiet time doing chores or catching up on other things that I have to do. I'll usually also be with the baby (we also have a 7 month old) who will sleep for part of the time and then I'll sit with her and we'll do some quiet bonding activity together because I so rarely get to spend time just her and me :)

Answer 2

I started doing quiet time with my kids because I worked at a daycare where we did it. Instead of calling it nap time we had quiet time so that kids could nap if they wanted but no matter what they had to remain on their cots and stay quiet either sleeping or reading a book or they could just lay there but they weren't allowed to talk or get up until quiet time was over. Worked great so I do it with my boys from time to time if I see they really need that timeout to regather themselves or well if I need to. Quiet time is an awesome thing to do. For my quiet time I play games online or watch something I wouldn't watch with my kids.

Answer 3

We try to. My 17 month old takes a longer nap then her brother, and her sister doesn't nap. So, while she's napping we try to have my other two kids have "quiet time." Usually consists of them going into the play room and quietly playing a game, etc. I usually just get some chores done around the house or occasionally can find time to come online. :)

Answer 4

TV is a no no before bed time, just over stimulates more than anything. What I do after dinner, bath, I read my daughter a book, give her 10-15 mins quiet time, breastfeed, and then put her down to sleep, all of that is approximately 30mins, sometimes it takes awhile for my daughter to fall asleep (overtired :-() but routine is good.

Answer 5

We do quiet time like read a book together or something.Today we had a cup of tea in the playhouse and stayed quiet so we could watch the birds through the window but it got cold so we came in.

Answer 6

We do it before bed. She and I will read a book together or tell stories. After that it lights out and bed time. I found it easier to put her to sleep, by following a routine every night. Now she knows what is going to happen.

Answer 7

yeah... every orning between 10 and 11... the baby has her nap and the 4 yr old does whatever he wants in his room.... and i watch tv in mine!



i used to work at a camp years ago... and we did the same thing there... every dy had a mandatory quiet hour where the kids where free to do whatever quiet activity they wanted

Answer 8

I have a 3 year old and i have a quite time for him. Like around 1 or 2. He'll eat lunch at 12 and take a bath then we sit down and i read him a book or let him watch his favorite movie and he falls asleep. :) i think your way is really good too. :)

Answer 9

We don't have quiet time. All day is quiet time based on what you wrote that the kids do during it. Running, yelling, screaming, etc. are not allowed in my house. It helps that I only have 1 kid though. They tend to get loud when there's multiple kids in the house.

Answer 10

absolutely! They do this at summer camps too. In my house my son has to be on his bed, reading, coloring, something quiet. I sleep or read



It is a must. It is my only break, I call it "Mommy needs a moment". Otherwise, I am edgy and irritable

Answer 11

yes 30 minutes before bed