The Importance Of Having A Routine At Bedtime

Bedtime can often feel more like a power struggle than the pleasant moment we want to share with our children. By using a bedtime routine and doing the same things every night before going to bed, you can make it a little easier.

Before you know it, going to bed will be a peaceful and quiet moment that you and your children can enjoy.

I do not want to go to bed!

It is common for children not to like going to bed. As a result, they oppose the moment and try to avoid it as much as possible. This often leads to the parents losing patience and when we do, we also lose our resources to get them to cooperate.

For many children, fear is the main reason they do not want to go to bed. At night they lie alone, in the dark, and they may feel afraid and imagine various dangers.

In other cases, the children have too many activities going on. Children are by nature active, energetic and exploratory. They like to move around, make new discoveries and have a lot going for them. This can make it difficult for them to relax and unwind.

It is also possible that children simply want to spend more time with their parents. Many children spend most of the day without seeing one or both of their parents due to long working hours. It is understandable that children are reluctant to be separated from them when it is time to go to bed.

Basic guidelines

There are some basic guidelines that parents can follow to help their children develop good sleep habits.

• First and foremost, parents need to determine the time of bedtime. To do this, it is important to think about how many hours the children need to sleep, depending on their age.

• Try to make the time before bed as relaxed and calm as possible. It is highly recommended to turn off all screens at least one hour before going to bed.
• Do your best to make sure that your children do not go to bed with negativity and quarrels. Never send your children to bed as punishment for bad behavior.
• Give your children a reminder that it’s time to go to bed soon, about 15 minutes before. That way, they can finish what they are doing and the change will not be as sudden.

Create a bedtime routine

Having a series of activities you go through in the same way every night can help children feel continuity and stability. At the same time, it helps them to incorporate the sequence as a habit more naturally.

The most important points that a bedtime routine should include are the following:

1. Have the same time to sleep and wake up every day.
2. Make the tasks your children need to perform a part of the routine. For example, wash, brush your teeth or pack your backpack for the next day.
3. Perform calm activities to help your child relax.
4. Do not forget physical contact. Follow your children to their beds and stop them.
5. Make sure that the room where your children sleep contributes to rest and relaxation. Weak lighting, pleasant temperature, quiet music and a pleasant scent are a fantastic combination.

Suggestions for bedtime activities

Below we have compiled a list of activities that you can have as part of your children’s routine at bedtime. In addition to the above, we suggest relaxing and soothing activities that you can do with your children every night.

• Read fairy tales. Everyone knows that children love to hear fairy tales. It makes their imagination run wild, but that’s not all. It makes them feel valuable and important, given that it is a time when they have your full attention. This applies regardless of whether you read to your children or whether your children read to you.
• Encourage positive thinking. It helps to combat any fears and also helps children to develop an optimistic mindset. We suggest that you spend the last minutes before your child falls asleep going over the good things that happened during the day. You can also use this moment to fantasize about nice things together.
• Help your children calm down. If your children have difficulty getting to rest before it is time to go to bed, simple relaxation techniques can be very helpful. For example, you can scratch them on the back or brush their hair while singing for them. You can also ask them to close their eyes and imagine that they are going down a flight of stairs. With your voice, lead them down each imaginary step. At the bottom of the stairs they find a room full of soft and cozy pillows where they can sleep peacefully.