?I only have to make it to naptime? was my refrain every single morning when I was juggling a baby, a toddler, and freelance work I somehow had to fit in. When there were ill-timed diaper blowouts, unending toddler tantrums, or tears from all three of us, the one thing I could count on was the midday snooze.
Until, that is, my oldest started protesting his nap.
I panicked. There was no way I was going to be able to get through an entire day without a break, let alone get any work done.
Enter: Quiet Time.
Though it might seem impossible at the outset, substituting naptime with quiet time offers respite from the frenzied pace of living with a toddler. It?s not only doable, it?s also good for our kids, who may not need sleep midday but still benefit from a rest and reset. ?It?s important to explain to kids that quiet time is something that our bodies need,? says Susie Allison, author, blogger, mom of three and the creator of the hugely successful Instagram account Busy Toddler, which focuses on activities for toddlers and preschoolers.
She notes that screen time can be a part of quiet time, but it shouldn?t be the sole focus. ?It?s the most beneficial type of play a child can do,? she says. ?Unstructured free play totally by themselves, independent of an adult?s help.? Allison follows up her kids? unstructured playtime with a TV show before launching into the rest of the afternoon.
Jack started out doing 15 minutes of solo time in his room. I brought up a highly coveted box o...