Songs to help children relax?

Question

I work the afternoon shift at a day care facility, nap time is nerve racking. I work with 3's, 4's and 5 year old kids. Part time pre-k children. It takes 30-45 minutes just to get them down and calm. Some just run around. Music helps alot but cant find any good relaxing music. Any suggestions! Please child care appropriate! Thankx

Answer 1

I work during nap time too, so I feel for ya!! I don't know if you have a computer in your room, but we put the lullabies station on during naptime.  Here's the link : http://music.aol.com/radioguide/kids-rad...

just scroll about half way down.  I hope they fall asleep for you.

Answer 2

Can you sing to them?  My son likes baby beluga....anyway, I think sometimes they listen to a real voice better than a CD.

You don't have to be good or anything  they still like it.

Answer 3

I teach two year olds and their favorite nap CD's are Disney Princess, classical music, and disney baby lullaby. You can also try meditation music and sounds of nature.

Answer 4

Classics for Kids- flute or cello...they have various other ones such as piano and violin but those are too upbeat.

I like to use nature sounds with very little music.

You may wish to ask yourself what can you do before nap time to help calm them down...usually it's lunch and that can be very stimulating.  If you are getting them right from lunch to nap time you may wish to start a little routine as they are sitting on their naps.  One time I carried a bottle of lotion with me while I was near where the toileting was taking place.  Of course they all ask me what it was.  My response...the children who are laying calmly on their cots will receive some lotion.  You can make it more of a mystery if you want by changing the name of what was in the bottle to magic potion or whatever.   This gave them an incentive. Of course almost all lights were off as they were laying down.  I read a story in a very quiet voice so that they needed to be quiet to hear...it never was one that has much suspense to it.  :-)  As I ended the story I would turn on the instrumental music and begin to make my rounds.  I found that the children who took the longest to fall asleep were the ones that were over tired (with the exception of some 5 year olds who are transitioning out of nap).  I usually talked with my aide and had those children potty first and enter the room and lay down before anyone else came in.  I usually placed them in the same area so that one adult could be right there with them to rub their backs or hum softly.  Good luck.

Answer 5

There's the wiggles night time CD or on one of the old Hi5 CDs there is a song called night time sleep time

Answer 6

there are a ton of classical songs you could choose from!

beethoven, motzart, and many others.

hope i helped even just a little!

Answer 7

I got some wonderful CD's this year called Indigo Dreams and Indigo Ocean Dreams.  Google relaxation for children and you'll be amazed what comes up.  I got my CD's from Amazon and I'm sooooo happy with them.  You might want to try reading a nice quiet story to the group after they are on their mats/cots, then put on one of the CD's.  Each one has four stories on it, followed by a half hour of relaxing music.  We also do a lot of discussion about what makes us healthy and strong, and of course rest and sleep are very important to health.  At rest time, we do remind them how important adequate rest is to their health.