The Importance Of A Bedtime Routine

Bedtime often feels more like a struggle or even a power struggle than the cozy time we want to have with our kids. Having a bedtime routine every day before going to bed will make this process easier. We will therefore discuss the importance of a bedtime routine with you today.

Before you know it, going to bed will be a peaceful and quiet moment for you and your child to enjoy.

The importance of a bedtime routine: I don’t want to go to bed

It is common for children to be reluctant to go to bed for a number of reasons. That’s why they go against it and put off that moment as long as possible. This often leads to parents losing their temper, as well as their means of getting them to this point.

For many children, fear is the main reason they don’t want to go to bed. At night, in the dark, children are left alone. They can then feel anxious and start imagining all kinds of dangers.

In other cases, children still have an excess of energy, which keeps them active. Children are naturally active, energetic and exploratory. They like to move, discover and be busy. So it may be more difficult for them to relax and slow down.

It is also possible that children just want to spend some time with their parents. Many children spend most of the day without seeing one or both parents because of their long work hours. Understandably, children don’t want to be separated from their parents when it’s time to go to bed.

Preparing for a bedtime routine

What is the importance of a bedtime routine? There are some basic guidelines that parents can prepare to help their children develop good sleep habits:

• First of all , parents need to determine what time their children should go to bed. To do this, it’s important to keep in mind how many hours a night your kids need to sleep, depending on their age.
• Try to make the time before bedtime as peaceful and quiet as possible. At the same time, it’s best to turn off all screens at least two hours before going to bed.
• Do your best to prevent your child from associating bedtime with anything negative. Never send your child to bed as punishment for bad behavior.
• Give your children a warning. Let your kids know it’s almost time to go to bed about 15 minutes in advance. That way they can finish what they were doing and the change won’t be so abrupt.

Create a bedtime routine

By doing a series of activities that you repeat in the same way every night, children develop a sense of continuity and stability. At the same time, it helps them learn the sequence as a habit: the importance of a bedtime routine.

The most important keys that every bedtime routine should have are the following:

• Set the same time each day to go to bed and wake up.
• Include the activities your child needs to do as part of the routine. For example: washing hands, brushing teeth or preparing their backpack for the next day.
• Do quiet activities that help your child relax.
• Provide physical contact such as a kiss or hug and accompany your child to bed.

In addition, provide a place where your child can sleep peacefully and comfortably. Dimmed light, a pleasant temperature, calm music and a pleasant smell make for a good combination.

The Importance of a Bedtime Routine: Suggested Activities

Below is a list of activities you can do as part of your kids’ bedtime routine. In addition to the mandatory activities mentioned above, we propose some quiet moments that you can do with your child every evening.

• Read stories. Everyone knows that children love to listen to stories. It gives free rein to their imaginations, but that’s not all. It makes them feel valuable and important because it is a moment where they have your full attention. This applies whether you read to your children or whether your children read to you.

• Encourage Positive Thinking. This helps combat potential fears and also helps smaller children develop an optimistic mindset. We recommend spending the last few moments before your child goes to sleep reviewing the fun things that happened that day. You can also use this moment to come up with fun things together for the next day.

Finally, help your children to calm down. If your kids have trouble winding down before going to bed, simple relaxation techniques can be very helpful.

For example, you can rub their backs or play with their hair while you sing to them. You can also ask them to close their eyes and imagine them walking down a flight of stairs. Distract them by taking every imaginary step with your voice. At the bottom of the stairs they find a room full of soft and cozy pillows where they can sleep well.