Nap time for the kids came right after a lunch of macaroni and cheese, peaches and milk. The sweet lullaby celtic strings and ocean sounds were playing from the boombox as three-year-olds lapsed quietly into sleep, serenely on their mats.

For teachers, nap time is either a time to recharge the old batteries or drain them completely trying to get children to rest. Occasionally one or two of the little ones are wide-awake. As I look around, I see a little girl playing dress-up with costumes at the housekeeping area (because her mat is right next to it). She pays no mind to my observation and is completely absorbed in her own world as she puts on the lion costume. Other times, I spy children singing to themselves or taking off their shoes and reading a book under their covers.

Our Pre-K children are entirely awake one rare day, talking and laughing. When the assistant director makes the scene to gently reprimand them, they silently listen, but when she turns around and leaves, the children continue about their  business of chatter and laughter, dismissing her reprimand with a look that says, 'whatever'.

One particular group of children I've had the pleasure of observing during nap time are the younger toddlers who are just beginning to talk. They toddle around the play room like drunken midgets, stumbling over toys and each other, and then proceed to dump their lunch all over their shirts to show mom and dad what they ate that day. As sleep comes over them, I remember Nate, in particular, who could really articulate his words at a very young age. He would usually sleep for an hour-and-a-half, occasionally waking up earlier than the others. Most times, he would wake up first, and it became routine for me to walk over and try to lie him down and pat his little back. I would say, "Get on your mat, Nate."  Little Nate would repeat everything I said.  'Get on mat,'  he would retort.  He was just learning how to speak. I would then follow-up with, 'Go to sleep.'  'Go sleep,' Nate would parrot.  I'd just sigh to myself in surrender, laughing at him.

As wake-up time would come, children would arise, donning the wildest hair styles and sleep-glazed eyes. They would stare while holding their stuffed bear, or some would wake up eager to try and put on make-up.  Sleepy time was either a dream or a nightmare for the teacher’s aid, trying to keep the peace in the childrens’ room during nap time. 

Magnifying in 3-D

I like to keep my kids busy, especially the four-year old boys I have in my group. Boys by nature are always curious, investigating the mud puddles and adding woodchips to the puddle just to see what happens. Normally children are attracted to the mud, even in their finest dress clothes. I remember I, myself, at the age of four, decorated my little white dress just a little with some grass and mud stains...just before a wedding.

I recall the story of one particular boy whose name was 'trouble' because of his very nature. Evan was one of those high maintenance four-year olds, so to keep him busy, I gave him a magnifying glass to use at the playground -- much to his delight. He was captivated by the textures of sand, bark, grass, insects, and leaves his little glass showed him in 3-D size. Other boys in his class also investigated the playground with their little magnifying glasses. Completely captured so much by the world in a new view, Evan was sure he could keep it that way.  He wanted this magical magnifying glass for his very own. Soon the time came to go in, and I attempted to collect the magnifying glasses from the other boys. Evan knew what I was after, so he turned around with his back facing me.

'Evan, it’s time to return it now,' 'I insisted, reaching my hand out to him. To my shock, Evan had securely tucked the magnifying glass down his pants.  I gaped in disbelief.  How did that little boy know that was a great hiding place? Determined, I set out to make him give me the magnifying glass -- somehow.  Likewise he was convinced he was going to keep it for his very own.

'Evan, this is the last warning. Either you give me that, or you are going to tell your mother that you were going to steal it. Is she going to like that?'  Evan’s eyes smoldered angrily, but he gave me back the magnifying glass. Breathing a sigh of relief, I was not going to reach in and get the magnifying glass out myself, so I discreetly asked Evan to produce the magical glass from his pants for me.  Funny how he thought that would be the perfect hiding place for anything.  It must be a boy thing, surely.