the sleeping game

Part of my job as director of day camp is to plan activities for the various age groups. I came into this job with the activity of the "sleeping game" already as part of the daily schedule for the smallest day campers. The game goes as follows: all of the tiny 4 and 5 year old campers (affectionately known as the 'tadpoles', as all day camp groups correspond with a frog name) lay down on these squishy blue mats. They are told they have to "pretend" to fall asleep for this game, and who ever does the best job gets candy (candy is a common tool of bribery here at camp). Most of them swear they won't actually fall asleep, but they eventually do, and then, are almost impossible to ever wake up again. So now that you are familiar with the sleeping game, let me tell you- there has been a revolt against said sleeping game. A few tadpole parents in the past have expressed that their kid really doesn't need a nap and that is fair, some kids don't. Yesterday, however, a parent who's tadpole will be returning this summer stopped in to find me. I wasn't around but there was a note left for me that she would like to talk about...you guessed it, the sleeping game. Apparently her children LOVE camp, but they do NOT love the sleeping game. I am not upset- in fact, will be changing the sleeping game to a quiet reflection time. (Some kids can sleep, others can sit and look at a book... but regardless, I think some quiet time is important, at any age). Anyway- I just want to say, I wish someone would designate 30 minutes of my day for a sleeping game. Seriously, I can't believe the tadpole mutiny that is over this "game" which takes place in the air condition while soft music plays in the background. I'm just saying... you don't know what you got 'til it's gone my small tadpole children!