4year naptime at school

I have a friend who is a single mother of a 4 year old girl.  She is having problems with her daughter at preschool not taking a nap and distrubing all the other children in the class.  She stands on her cot and talks loudl and distrubs all the other children.  She has been sent to the office and been in time out and nothing works.  The mother is so frustrated because she does not know what to do.  The teacher says the child is very sweet any other time but nap time.  The mother has tried spanking, taking toys away at home and even a reward for good behavior.  Nothing seems to work.  When the child is asked why she acts up she says because I want to.  What advice can I give her?

[fallgirl30]

No one can force a child to sleep, and even making them have quiet time is difficult.  Can the teachers make a concession and have her look at a book or do some other quiet activity while lying down during this time?  That's the only thing I can think of.

[alliee0204]

My son (5 in K) had a BIG issue during a 20 minute rest time period in school. First I really dont think that 4 & 5 yr ols need NAP or rest time. His teacher/Principal were very helpful. They gave him other things to do and eventually cancelled rest time altogether. They now have center time which all parents were happy with. The school should work with your child. Spanking and or punishment is not the answer. Your child is doing nothing wrong and shouldnt be forced to sleep.

[DustyL]

"The mother has tried spanking, taking toys away at home" - BAD BAD BAD DO NOT PUNISH A CHILD AT HOME FOR ACTIONS IN SCHOOL!!!! She can talk about her actions, but DO NOT punish.

#1 Does she take naps at home?? If so, there maybe a fear of sleeping there or some other issue she needs to look into! If not... definately talk to the teachers about alternate things she can do besides taking a nap. My daughter is 4 and she had a real hard time even slowing down long enough to say still for 5 minutes on her cot. Her teacher said she was the only child who didn't nap, it was because she didn't need it!!! I had made the suggestion that since she is the ONLY child that doesn't nap maybe she can help the teacher clean or go into another room durring nap time or watch a movie, something. She now assists the teacher durring nap. She helps her clean up the project room, she helps set up the snacks for after nap, sometimes she joins the bigger kids in there room, and sometimes it's even been reported she will lay down and rest (not sleep) but rest because she is tired!! GOOD LUCK!!!!

[sweetmamajen]

My son wouldn't fall asleep either, and I wouldn't want him to!
My almost 3 yr old just cut out naps.
If my kids have a nap, they don't go to bed till 10-11pm!!
I'm glad my sons pre-school doesn't have nap time