How to explain "sleep" to a toddler?

[strmis]

DD is 3 y/o and is a sleep fighter... ESPECIALLY NAPS! 

ANYWAYS... I try to explain "sleep" to her but she just doesnt get it. She thinks closing her eyes is sleeping. I told her close eyes, no moving, no talking is sleep, but I still dont think she gets it.  Then when I tell her she isnt sleeping, she gets upset and says "I am... SEE" (as she closes her eyes, still, quiet for a second). Anyone know how to explain or describe sleep to a toddler? I feel like if she understood than at least she'd know if she wasnt sleeping.

[lifeguard]

Is it possible she is just getting ready to drop the nap?

I just tell ds he needs to lie still & close his eyes. I haven't tried to explain what sleep is or is not but that he needs to be still (he rocks & rolls constantly to keep himself awake) & generally if he stays still for longer than 2 minutes he falls asleep without trouble.

[tooraloora]

DD was like that too. It seemed like she was afraid she'd miss something. Finally when I put her down for a nap or bedtime, I asked her to not talk unless I asked a question, lie still, and then I'd tell her a story, which I guess was really more along the lines of a guided meditation. Arguing with her about whether or not she was sleeping was pretty useless but getting her into a story line tended to get her distracted long enough for her to actually fall asleep. What I told her tended to be whatever first came to mind, but I went with something that made her happy like a beach trip. In example :  "Think about if we were on the beach. You feel your toes squishing in the sand. The waves are lapping at your toes. Mommy is making a sandcastle with you. What kind of sandcastle should we make?" She'd answer and I'd continue. Within a couple minutes she'd stop talking and just listen, and very shortly DD would be snoring. Sleep is really a difficult concept to grasp for such a young kiddo. It's easier to just help them learn to reach it than to explain it.