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My almost 4 year old naps every single day at school for 2+ hrs, and she really needs it. She doesn't nap on the weekend. I'd be wary of a nap that late too, unless it was kept short.

All our classes nap from 1-3, up to age 5.

Thats crazy and borderline not healthy.

Mine napped through PreK and even in K they have a "rest period" at 2.

Our daycare offers naps to all the kids- 0-5- from 12:30-2:30. If they aren't sleepy they still need to rest quietly on their mat at that time.

@snowjewelz: Yup, my kid is weird that way. I actually consulted a sleep specialist about it and she said that the nap gives her an extra jolt of energy, kinda like caffeine. Our daycare won't force them to sleep, but won't keep them awake either, so when it's with the crowd, she'll usually fall asleep.

I would definitely check with the nap policy with aftercare. Ours is strictly 1-3 PM, so they will be woken at 3 regardless. I imagine your aftercare will do the same, but it's worth checking. The other question I'd ask them is whether they keep kids awake and only have those who want naps nap, or if everyone naps. Last but not least, I'd try a couple weekends without a nap and see what happens. Our kid is definitely an oddity with her long stretches of not sleeping, but even with her we notice some crankiness when it gets to 4-5 PM. We usually try to avoid the car (so we don't get the dreaded car nap) and do some quiet/distracting activities so she can power through.

Responded on another trhead. By law in ME there is mandatory rest time for 3 year olds. Kids are not required to sleep, but yes, rest. T stopped napping before 3 (and stopped napping at school at just over 2) but many children do nap at 3 at his school!

T was low sleep needs and he napped later at home around age 2.5 -- probably 1:30-3 or 2-3:30/4. He would go to bed around 8:30. When he dropped his nap he started going to bed at 7:30 for a long time. For a long time there were some days he needed the nap and other days he would skip.

@snowjewelz: Yes, I would talk to the director about how the handle a young child who still needs a nap. If they aren't willing to let her nap from like 2:30-4 then I would hold her back another year.

Can she move mid-year? I would keep her in the toddler room until you feel she is ready to drop the nap. Most kids don't start preschool until 3 here anyways!

For kids who do a full day (8:30-3 at our school), there is a nap time. If you just do a half day (morning or afternoon), there is no naptime. I wouldn't want my 2 yr 9 mo olds to go the whole day without a nap. My kids are just over that age now and they NEED their nap, especially on school days. I know there are a lot of kids their age who don't nap anymore, but for us, it's still very much necessary.

@snowjewelz: My son is in MDO / preschool and has pretty much the exact same schedule. He has thrived. His program ends at 1 PM though. He's not 3 year (2.5), but I can already say he would not be able to hang until 2 PM. There are days when he passes out during lunch and they end up having to put him down. I also can say that him going down at 2 would most likely translate to him sleeping too late into the evening (probably 4:30) and rough bedtimes.

I realize my comments aren't very useful other than confirming that this wouldn't work. I will say my son has thrived on a similar structure (except his lunch is way earlier - like 11:30 - by 12:30 he would be a monster).

ETA: Ohh, I actually had a helpful thought! I wonder if they would be okay with her going to the toddler room for nap at 1 PM -- it looks like 1 PM is just quiet time, etc. I'm not sure if that's even a possibility, though.

In Texas, any program longer than 4 hours requires a rest period. So, they would definitely have to have nap time of some sort if they were in Texas! I SAH and we are doing a 9-1 preschool this fall so she can come home and take a nap (hopefully!) after school versus an abbreviated nap at school. My LO turned 3 last October.

Yes, my 3.5 year old naps at school from 1-3. That seems strange to me that there would be preschool with no naps?!

@Mrs. Carrot: We had the same problem when my son was just turning three. They napped from 1230 to 3 and he would be up so late! Around 3 1/2 he just stopped completely though. Now he just has to lay there quietly on the mat from 1230 to 3 PM. It's ridiculous and I can't wait for him to go to pre-K next year where they don't nap.

@snowjewelz: the other kids do all sorts of crafty activities after lunch. But they frequent do crafty activities, so I don't think she's missing out.

@lawbee11: well I made a fuss about how that isn't developmentally appropriate and now they let him sit on his mat with paper and crayons or a book or some "quiet box" with little toys. But he hasn't to stay quiet.