August is always such a sad month. It just seems to signify that summer is coming to a close. I know we still have a beach vacation to look forward to, and I always even looked forward to the first day of school, but it just feels like freedom is coming to an end. It is something that is engrained in me.

It seems the Sleep Lady is on the same page as me. Let's see what she has to say:

Welcome to this month's Snooze Week!

Welcome to August! As the dog days of summer continue, August always makes me want to speed up and squeeze out every bit of fun summertime has to offer. As my race to beat the back-to-school clock continues, I must always check myself towards the end of the month and remember the importance of slowing things down as we get closer to returning to our fall schedules. Whether it be preparing for school or work, remembering to ease back into a healthy sleep routine is paramount to changing seasons successfully.

As parents, we often forget in planning the schedules and activities of those around us to schedule time for recharging our batteries. August is the perfect time for that. It's the time to reset our minds, adjust our pace, and get back to a healthy sleep schedule. Begin making slight adjustments for earlier bedtimes and earlier wake- ups throughout August to prepare our bodies and minds for all that fall brings. As the thermometers on the east coast tops 100 degrees, my wish for you this month is to find a cool spot, a good book, and a "piece of peace" before fall falls into our laps! Happy recharging!

Transitioning from Naps to Quiet Time

What?! What is this about??? When does this happen? It sounds similar to Harry's Zone time so far. I am optimistic…

Naps to quiet time can bring a big transition for the whole family! Many families ask me at what age do children give up their naps. On average children give up their afternoon nap at 4 years old.

Whew! That buys us some time!

That being said, I have worked with many 3-3 1/2 year olds who successfully give up their daily afternoon nap (these children are sleeping through the night). Watching your child's behavior is of course more important than averages.

Oh. We probably have about another year left then.

With the two-and-a-half- or three-year-old, you still need to be vigilant about daily naps. He can skip an occasional one, but put him to bed earlier that night. Naps also remain essential for older children who aren't sleeping through the night or who are obviously tired during the day. Even when your child stops napping, quiet time in the late afternoon or before dinner is a must for three and four-year-olds, and a wise idea for five-year-olds, unless you actually like watching your child melt down.

Nope! Harry and I are both good "zoners." Kevin can nap, and Harry has learned to on most days, though he still seems to prefer "the zone." I am hopeless.

The simplest way to tell whether a preschooler or kindergartener needs a nap is to watch him. If your child is getting about eleven hours of unfragmented sleep at night and seems well rested, cheerful and easy going during the day, it may be time to go from naps to quiet time.

Harry gets that now. The doctor said he is a good sleeper. I still wish he slept until 7. A person I ran with yesterday has a child who sleeps from 7PM till 8AM when she has to wake him up. She said she used to be a zoo keeper. Do animals have bedtimes?

You might want to cut out naps every other day, rather than eliminate them completely, or you may find that he naps great on the days he's with his sitter or at preschool but won't nap on days he's with you (or vice versa). If he is cranky or teary or frequently melting down, he probably needs at least a few naps a week. Car behavior is also a good clue. If he conks out every time you start your engine, he probably still needs that afternoon snooze. Children who were good nappers but who now take a very long time to fall asleep in the afternoon may also be ready to phase out the nap and start quiet time.

Quiet time is exactly what it sounds like, about forty- five minutes of structured, solitary play, preferably at about the same time every afternoon. It's a time for children to rest their bodies and, to a lesser extent, their minds. It helps pave the way for a peaceful dinner hour and easy bedtime. Good activities include looking at books, watching an age-appropriate, calm children's video (leave fast-paced, action-packed cartoons for another time), coloring, or playing in their room with dolls, trains, trucks, or the like. The activity should not need a lot of adult interaction or supervision, so make sure the child is in a safe place. Some parents use a timer or alarm clock in their child's room or in the hallway so their child knows when quiet time is over.

Remind your child that in all-day preschool, all children have to lay down on a cot for quiet time- to read, relax their body and brain or snooze if they need to! Don't forget quiet time can be a powerful tool to recharge parents, too! Make sure you take time to practice what you preach and enjoy the quiet time away from your child. Dishes and laundry do NOT recharge our minds and bodies no matter how hard we try! Find a quiet space to go to and enjoy your own piece of peace!

» IN NEXT MONTH's ISSUE: Potty Training Tips!

Oooh! Looking forward to this one. Certainly not rushing into anything though. Harry is not ready yet. But I did see on A children's Hospital commercial today that we are supposed to start changing him in the bathroom so he learns that that is what bathrooms are for. I think we will start that after we move. This also stops the question of where to put the diaper genie/champ.