Good Sleepers - Sleeping Tickets

As my son gets a bit older (3.5 years), some days I find it harder to get him to stay in his bed for nap time. That throws off our WHOLE evening. He wants to crash right at dinner and then he's up WAAAYYY to early - 5am! 

So, I stole, borrowed, or implemented this idea from his school, however you want to look at it. He's in an older 3's and younger 4's room where almost all the kids are still nappers. If the students are sleeping or quiet the entire nap time, they get a sleeping ticket. At the end of the week, they can turn their tickets in for a prize. Something small like stickers, bubbles, cool pencils, etc...

Start off by putting your kiddo's name on the sticky part of a sticky note and cut away the bottom. I write their name at the top. (In school, the student's name goes on the ticket but here I just have my two so we are going to reuse them.) 

**Update** - This is a smashing idea! The kids love it and they have been champion sleepers! I am soooooo excited that my husband and I are sleeping in our bed the whole night! 

I made some easy tickets in Word. 

You can snag mine or make your own.

Find the PDF download on my TeacherspayTeachers site

I snagged some of my regular magnets and stuck their names to it. If you notice, this is all above the ice/water dispenser so no little figures can get to it, take them away or add to them :)

 Let your little one add their own sleeping ticket to their clip - it lets them take ownership!

 Each kid is in charge of their own tickets.

 The extras are clipped together above so we can take one as we need it.

 Being independent is helping create kids and students who make the right choice and see how they actions affect themselves and others.  We talked about how important it is for children to rest, be able to recharge they batteries, and be ready for an afternoon of play. This is your time to have conversations with your children and provide vocabulary about how their bodies use energy and need to get more by eating and sleeping.

 Steps stools work perfectly to help with independence.

 Ignore the headphones, he's being silly this morning :)

 I found a few fun clips while I was at bed bath and beyond. Theses are perfect for the kids and I can have my clips back for our daily family reminders ;)

Remember this is fun and your kids will think its fun, also. Include them in whatever you can and explain what you are doing and why. You'd be surprised how fast children pick up vocabulary when they are included in the conversation!!!! If you choose anyway to get your child ahead, choose involvement and conversation! It goes a long way!