Rest Time

Written by Rachel Jamieson, M. S. Ed

Every day at school you have rest time. This is a time to slow down your bodies. During rest time, the lights turn off and the classroom becomes a quiet and calm place.

Our bodies need rest. Resting every day helps us grow taller and stronger. When we rest, our brains get smarter. After we rest, our bodies have more energy and our hearts feel happier.

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Our classroom is a safe place to be. The teachers will always be in the room to help you feel safe and cozy when you rest.

Sometimes it feels good to fall asleep during rest time. Teachers can help your body feel calm and comfortable.

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On the days your body is not tired enough to sleep, there are things you can do to quietly rest on your cot.

Even if you are awake, you will need to have a quiet voice and stay on your cot so that other children can rest.

When you are resting, here are some quiet things you can do:

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You can whisper to your blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal.

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You can practice your different ways of breathing. How calm can you make your body?

You can look around the classroom and quietly count the things you see.

Look at the books you have by your mat. When you’re done, teachers can bring you more books, but you might have to be patient.

Here are some other quiet things you can do during rest time:

Here are some other quiet things you can do during rest time:

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Make up a story in your head. You can whisper it to your rest time things.

Pretend to hide under your blanket.

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Remember that the other children are still resting, so your body needs to stay on your mat and your voice needs to be quiet.

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When rest time is done, the lights will come back on. Teachers will let you know when you can get off your mat. After you’ve rested, your body will have lots of energy to play!