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I agree that quiet time is very important for children. I have 4 kids and they are 5, 3, 1 and 6 months. I don't have to say anything but I bet you can guess my life can get pretty crazy. With kids so young they have so much energy and are always on the move.

My oldest attends a Pre-K class for about 2 hours a day. Which is good for her to have time away from the craziness of the house. While she is gone at school I feed my boys lunch and the yongest two take their afternoon naps. This is quiet time for my second oldest. This is when he gets to watch a movie or just simply play quietly by himself.

All day long when his sister is home and his little brother is awake he plays with them. They all play well together but sometimes the oldest bosses around the younger ones. I see it all the time with my kids. My oldest tries to tell the other how to play and what to do.

Don't get me wrong there is no problem with that sometimes it helps littler ones imaginations to see how older children play. If they are always playing with other when do they have time for themselves to think and play how they want.

I watch my son play when no one is around and it is so cute. He will do what he wants and how he wants. He will line his toys up in a row his way and then put them in a bucket. We will play games together and no having nagging siblings complaining about something.

When my daughter gets home. She has her own quiet time where she gets to slow down from the school rush. She eats a snack and then gets to enjoy some cartoons while the younger ones are still naping.

My kids know that when someone is napping it is time to be quiet and play quietly. I do not believe quiet time should be sitting still with nothing to do. Kids do not always have to be running around and bouncing off the walls.

I think it teaches them how to slow themselves down and to not always have to be screaming and yelling. My sister in law has three wild boys. They never stop. They are constantly doing something. Not only that but the are so LOUD. I swear they having hearing problems or something because they are unable to speak quietly. I am not talking about a whisper I am talking about just plain talking normal.

I do not know how my sister in law deals with it. I would be an insane mother. I think children need to learn these skills and learn them young.

Quiet time can happen at anytime of the day. When I started getting my kids on better sleeping schedules we would read a book with them and then it was bedtime. I didn't care if they looked at books or quietly played with little toys in their beds until they were tired. I didn't care as long as they stayed in their rooms and were quiet. It work really well for my kids. They didn't feel the need to HAVE to go to sleep right then and there.

I personally think it is not only important for kids but also for parents. Quiet time is a cherished time in my house. It is a time I can relax, read, do some chores or play quietly with my children.

Some kids may have a hard time with quiet time at first but it is like anything. Don't give up and keep at it. They will get it and thank you for it.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Twilley.
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