Rationale
Mahia I runga I te rangimārie me te ngākau māhaki
With a peaceful mind and respectful heart, we will always get the best results.
Because peaceful, undisturbed sleep and rest periods are vital to the healthy growth, and social/emotional development of tamariki, at Living & Learning, each child will have a daily sleep/rest period, which will be a calm, pleasurable experience. For their wellbeing and safety when sleeping, it’s essential they are monitored closely and consistently. The bond and connection nurtured with each child guides our understanding of their different rest and sleep needs and enables us to recognise and support individual sleeping and waking patterns.
Details
Setting the scene
- For tamariki to feel safe, settled and able to drift off to sleep calmly, consider a setting and rituals that create a soothing, cozy and peaceful sanctuary for rest and sleep.
- Foster tranquil rhythms that enable tamariki to feel comfortable falling asleep at Living & Learning.
- For those tamariki who we know are comforted by a special ‘cuddly’ or reassuring touch, ensure this forms part of their settling ritual, to help them wind down and feel relaxed as they fall asleep.
- Kaiako will reflectively observe their room and the changing needs and energy levels of their group to create rituals that gently signal the approaching quiet time: lower the music volume, draw blinds where applicable, and use soft voices.
Supporting Undisturbed Rest and Sleep
- Thoughtfully creating special spaces for restorative sleep means that our youngest tamariki are not routinely placed in items or equipment (bouncer, swing etc.) that are not fit for or designed specifically for sleeping purposes. However, to ensure our care plan is responsive to each child’s unique needs, the use of these items/equipment for sleeping/resting purposes is discretionary when this is assessed as being supportive of the best outcomes for that child.
- If a child falls asleep while in an item not designed specifically for sleep, they will be carefully transferred to a bed or cot, as soon as possible. Tamariki under one year old should be able to lie flat when sleeping as this is important for their breathing.
- Being attuned to each child in your care, enables Kaiako to be responsive to individual physical and emotional cues, ensuring we give tamariki the opportunity to sleep when they need to.
Supervision during Sleep Periods
- As we nurture whanaungatanga, we build familiarity and connection with each child, so that through intentional observation, we are able to recognise signs that a child is sleeping peacefully. Use gentle touch at regular intervals to check for warmth and breathing, without disturbing the child.
- Consider the influence of the season and ambient room temperature on comfort levels, before covering each child for their sleep, and ensure their face is clearly visible.
- We respond kindly and immediately to a distressed or upset child, because they trust us to be there.
