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Nap Time in Kindergarten in the 1950s
The Importance of Nap Time
In the 1950s, nap time was a crucial part of the kindergarten experience. Educational philosophies of the time emphasized the importance of rest for young children to support their growth and development. A typical kindergarten schedule included a dedicated nap time, usually after lunch, when children would lie down on mats or cots brought from home or provided by the school.
Setting the Scene
Classrooms were often arranged with mats or small cots spaced evenly apart, ensuring each child had a comfortable and personal space to rest. Teachers would dim the lights and create a calm, quiet environment conducive to relaxation and sleep. The atmosphere was one of tranquility, designed to help children recharge for the remainder of the school day.
Music for Nap Time
Music played a significant role in setting the tone for nap time. In the 1950s, the selections often included soft, soothing melodies to help children drift off to sleep. Here are some types of music and specific examples that might have been played during nap time:
1. **Classical Music:** Pieces like Claude Debussy's "Clair de Lune" or Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" were popular choices. The gentle and flowing melodies of these compositions created a peaceful ambiance.
2. **Lullabies:** Traditional lullabies such as "Brahms' Lullaby" or "Hush, Little Baby" were common. These songs had been used for generations to soothe children to sleep and were a staple in many households and classrooms.
3. **Nature Sounds:** Some teachers might have used recordings of nature sounds, like the gentle flow of a stream or the soft rustling of leaves. These sounds were believed to have a calming effect, helping children relax and feel at ease.
4. **Popular Music:** Occasionally, more contemporary tunes from the 1950s that had a soothing quality might be used. Songs like Nat King Cole's "Mona Lisa" or Bing Crosby's "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)" provided a comforting and familiar backdrop for nap time.
The Experience
For many children, nap time was a cherished part of their day. It offered a moment of respite and a break from the structured activities and learning. Teachers played a crucial role in ensuring that this time was both restful and beneficial. They often walked softly around the room, gently patting a back or offering a comforting word to any child struggling to settle down.
In summary, nap time in the 1950s was more than just a break; it was an essential component of early childhood education. The careful selection of music and the nurturing environment created by teachers contributed to a restful and rejuvenating experience for young children, laying the foundation for a productive and enjoyable school day.

On injured legs from clock needles
Stinking running women
Trying to put the house in order
Kept going to work....

Making milk from milkmouth,
Of office-school goers
Tiffin decorating,
Pulses and vegetables,
Filling casserole with bread,
Putting jam on kids brad,
Fixing the scattered piles of utensils,
Showing the sunshine of gutter clothes,
Going to work ......

Stopping clips by tying hair,
Pinning scarf hanging shoulders,
Saree's shikuri pressing crease,
Sliding between the forehead of Bindiya,
Wearing borolin with purse,
Saving separate money everyday,
Going to work......

Sometimes half - sometimes complete
Sometimes ate sometimes quit
Sometimes for sure sometimes raw
Never forget the tiffin
So sometimes only
Eating the terrace
Going to work.......

Hiding the mascara of the moist eyes,
Papadae applying lipstick on the darkness,
Offering bangles on the wrist stain,
Covering the body from the matching stall,
Kept going to work.....

Sleeping half the night
Putting balm on headache
Reducing heat from paracetamol
Keeping an eye on the needle of BP
Celebrating the man who has come
Kept going to work....

Taking the kids together
Leaving behind sometimes crying
With a toy in hand
Ever by giving the bread,
Holding the bed in the hands of the neighbor,
On my way to work....

Sometime to fill water
Sometime to roll
Ever of a new crop
To buai
Sometime in office
Ever the shop
Ever on foot
Ever a bicycle
Ever scooty
Ever a biker
Sometimes in the bus
Sometimes in the train
Ever a rickshaw
Ever from the van
Kept going to work....

Take an umbrella sometime
Ever forget the purse
Sometimes sleep sometimes cry
Sometimes there are sometimes lost
Except for the kids
Kept going to work....

Because they know that
Their going to work
Definitely is the verb,
That's why they at every break
By applying fevicol of courage
Going to work !

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