Quiet Time and Rest

Core Idea

Your body and mind need quiet time to rest and recharge, just like a phone needs to be plugged in. Quiet time might mean sitting still, lying down, looking at a book, or just doing nothing for a little while. Resting is not being lazy — it is taking care of yourself.

How It's Best Learned

Build quiet time into the daily routine and model it yourself. Offer choices during quiet time — looking at a book, coloring, resting with a stuffed animal. Talk about how you feel before and after quiet time to help children notice the difference rest makes.

Common Misconceptions

• Thinking that quiet time is a punishment; it is actually a gift you give yourself.
• Believing that you always have to be doing something; your brain does important work during rest.
• Assuming quiet time means you have to sleep; resting can mean any calm, peaceful activity.

Explainer

Your body and mind need quiet time to rest and recharge, just like a phone or a tablet needs to be plugged in to charge. When you rest, something wonderful happens inside you. Your heart slows down. Your mind becomes clearer. Your feelings calm down. Your whole body gets stronger. Rest is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.

Resting is not being lazy. Some people think that if you are not doing something active and busy, you are being lazy. That is not true. When you rest, your brain is doing important work! Your brain is organizing what you learned. Your brain is storing memories. Your body is getting stronger. Resting is hard work that feels peaceful.

Quiet time can mean many different things. You might sit still and do nothing. You might lie down with a stuffed animal. You might look at a book. You might color. You might listen to calm music. All of these are ways to rest. Quiet time does not mean you have to sleep — it just means you are doing something calm and peaceful.

Here is something important: quiet time is a gift you give yourself, not a punishment. Some people think quiet time is something you have to do when you are being punished. But that is not true. Quiet time is a special time you choose to take care of yourself. It is a time to let your body relax and your mind rest.

When you rest regularly and give your body time to recharge, you feel better in every way. You are happier. You can think more clearly. You are kinder to people. You feel stronger. Quiet time is a superpower.