Nap Time and Social Interaction Skills Among Preschoolers in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Nap Time, Social Interaction Skills, Preschoolers, Nigeria, Descriptive SurveyAbstract
This study examined the frequency of nap time and its predictive influence on social interaction skills among 229 preschoolers in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, teachers and caregivers rated children's nap time frequency and social interaction skills. Descriptive statistics revealed a high frequency of nap time among the preschoolers (grand mean = 3.14, SD = 0.58). Simple linear regression analysis showed that nap time significantly and positively predicted social interaction skills (R = .270, R² = .073, Adjusted R² = .069, F(1, 227) = 17.897, p < .001), with nap time explaining 7.3% of the variance in social interaction skills (B = .199, t(227) = 4.231, p < .001). The findings suggest that structured daytime rest is associated with the behavioural capacity for positive peer exchange, cooperation, and classroom social engagement. This study contributes rare West African empirical evidence on sleep and social competence linkages, addressing a documented gap in African early childhood research. Implications for culturally responsive early childhood practices in resource-constrained settings are discussed.
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