Hi,
My 2 1/2 year old son started a little summer camp program 2
times per week. His teacher is having a very difficult time
getting him to lay on his mat for naptime. She sits on the mat with him
and he's ok for a couple of minutes, but then tries to get up. When she
tries to keep him there he cries which is disturbing the children who
are napping. This is a regular classroom setting with typical peers. He
has no behavioral problems so the Dr. thinks it's great that he is with
typical children. He was diagnosed with pdd-nos in March. He is non
verbal and very little cognitive skills.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Angele
P.S. He naps at home, although it is in his own room in a crib.
Is there something that he does regularly at home before he takes a nap. For instance, does he play w/ a certain toy or do you cuddle w/ him before he lays down to sleep? Does he sleep w/ a special object, such as a teddy bear or a blanket? Maybe if you brought in some familiar objects that the teacher can place around his sleep area that would indicate to him it is nap time. Even bringing one of his fitted sheets at home to put over the mat may help.
At my daughter's daycare (she is 3 next month) it took them a good month before they would get her to sleep on the mat for nap time. They would lay w/ her until she was really sleepy (but that was just their way...they were very patient). Pretty soon she started doing it on her own w/ the other kids did it. It may be that you son just needs some time to adjust to his new surroundings and get into their regular routine. I know it usually takes my daughter a little longer than a typical child to get into a routine. Once she is in it, is shouldn';t change much cause it will upset her schedule.
Hope that helps.
Angele,..... Kids on the spectrum generally resist change in settings and routines, schedules and evenin the way things are done. He might be having trouble because of all the changes... I would recommend prepping him ahead of time with what is expected of him and keeping things consistent with what he is used too.