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When rest time at preschool is hard

A short cartoon about resting without having to sleep, starring your child. Watch it together earlier in the day, never in bed.

Try a story beginning

An example story beginning for this moment. It is not a cartoon of your own story.

Cartoons are made with AI. You preview each one before your child sees it. Automatic checks can miss things.

Illustration, made with AI: a girl lies on a rest mat with her eyes open, hugging a stuffed rabbit and looking toward the window, while her teacher sits close by and a glowing firefly listens to the leaves outside.
Illustration, made with AI

Let's imagine

Example, made with AI

Mia (4) lies on her rest mat with her stuffed rabbit. The room is quiet, and she isn't sleepy. "I'm still awake," she whispers to her teacher. "You can just rest," says her teacher, and sits close by. Mia looks at the window. Leaves move outside, and she listens to the rustle. She holds her rabbit and keeps her eyes open for a while. Rest time is long, and she rests in her own way.

The characters in this example are made up. Your child can be the hero, with or without a photo.

What happens in the story

In the example above:

  • Mia says in plain words that she's awake.
  • Her teacher says she can just rest. Nobody asks her to sleep.
  • Mia listens to the leaves and holds the rabbit from home.
  • The story ends with Mia resting, eyes open. Nobody falls asleep.
Try a story beginning

Talk-after card

Here are three gentle questions to talk about after this example. Best watched together, then followed by a chat or a game.

  1. What did Mia hear while she rested?
  2. What did her teacher say?
  3. When you rest, would you like to listen, hold something soft, or look out the window? You choose.

Use the ones that feel right. Skip any you like.

What a cartoon can and can't do

  • Not for watching in bed or just before sleep. Health guidance suggests turning screens off an hour before bedtime.
  • Talk about rest time earlier in the day, away from bed.
  • Every preschool has its own rest time. Your child's teachers know how it goes there.
  • Every family has its own pace.
  • Each Zubby cartoon is made to be talked about together. It can't do the work of routine, patience or your child's doctor.
  • If you are worried about your child's sleep, eating, fears or behavior, talk to your child's doctor, nurse or teacher.