Naps vs. Social Times for a 4 year old

[HouseofPeace]

I've got a wonderful, social, good-natured 4 1/2 year old (birthday in march) who is a very easy child.

Our family has a pretty set schedule of school/social time from 10:15 am-12:30pm.  Then we nap from 1-3 every day.  Usually she doesn't nap, but plays alone, listens to music and is quiet for that time.  

She's started ballet bi-weekly on Friday's with the daughters of a friend.  She stays after school and then they do dance sometime before 5pm.  My struggle is, if they do the class too late, anytime after 3, she's mentally and emotionally unable to handle class.  But there seems to be no worry for them (in spite of repeated reiterations from me) that she needs to do the class before 3pm or else she's not able to handle it.  Today she came home with the report that she was unable to focus and actually do ballet.  I'm fine with not having her do dance, but she LOVES the social time with the girls (7 & 8 1/2), and also loves doing the ballet if she's not overexhausted before the class.  But she can't socialize from 12:30-3ish or later and then still have the energy to focus and learn something new.

Are there other mama's whose older kids still nap?  How do I manage my very social but introverted daughter's life so that she gets the rest and quiet time she needs as well as the social life she craves?  All my kids- almost 7, almost 5, 3 and 20+ months get quiet time daily and seem to thrive on that as well as sleeping well at night.  They're rarely sick, good natured, and able to handle a lot of variety, as long as resting and socialization are kept in a good rhythm.

I know other mom's do this, I'm just the only mom  in my area I know who keeps kids napping and resting at these older ages. 

[Peony]

My kids stop napping at 2 and frankly I find that to be a huge relief because then our day becomes more open to possibilities, so yeah, quiet time doesn't exist here! When the last one stops napping, hopefully next year, this will be me. 

I know two families that do naps until K starts. One does not do any afternoon activities at all because they prioritize rest time. The other family does do after school activities but it is a mad dash home at 12:30, straight to bed, and up by 2:30-3 and back in the car to make it to dance or whatever by 3:30. Which is what I do as well but that's life with 4 kids and hence one of the reasons that I can't wait to cross naps off. 

If this a continued issue that your DD can not handle an activity without napping then I'd bring her home after school, do naps, and then back for dance. 

[serenbat]

My very soon to be 5 year old NEEDS to nap, my older DD needed naps even at 6- both are great sleepers and get 10 hours each night but to me their bodies need the nap. 

I firmly believe sleep is vital to good health and in the winter with everyone sick, sleep takes over social needs for us.

My DS who will be 5 needs at least 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon and days when he just can't, night times is very hard for him. Having napped he eats a good dinner and go to bed with no issues.

To me, at this age, frankly the social takes a far back seat to the bodies real need. I feel their bodies should dictate their needs.

I do know many do not like to have to stop and let their children nap, I have a friend who's child does not nap, but crashes big time at 6:30PM so that eliminates things too.

OP you always have another year to do the dance.