Bedtime
Rituals
Easing Kids Into Dreamland With Love
Bedtime
can be a very special time. It can be a time of getting to know
your child better. Or it can be a battle of wills where everyone
misses out.
There
is no perfect formula for bedtime routines, however children thrive
most when they know what is expected of them and when the adults
caring for them stick as close as possible to the rules that are
set. A regular bedtime that parents stick to give the bedtime ritual
stability. Not only that, but research has found that going to bed
at the same time every night sets your body clock so you actually
get tired around that time. The extra bonus is that regular sleep
habits mean better, more restful sleep.
Chaotic
work schedules sometimes do not permit parents to be home early
enough to have a consistent bedtime for the kids and that can throw
everything off. This can confuse children. If possible, when you
have to work late try to get a babysitter who can put the kids to
bed at the regular time. You can always sneak in for a hug and a
kiss when you get home. If your work schedule changes frequently,
the children will grow accustomed to that. They will learn how to
be flexible and that is a good quality to instill.
It
is natural for children to want to be important. Regardless of what
time bedtime ends up being, try to incorporate some alone time into
your last minutes of the day together. To avoid resentment from
your children and to reassure them that you do have time for them,
try a few of these ideas:
- A
bedtime story is a sure fire way to relax your child and get some
quality cuddling in! Pick out a few books ahead of time that are
not too full of action and stimulation. Then present the books
to your child. Letting your child choose the book gives him or
her opportunity to learn how to make choices. If the same book
gets chosen night after night, that is okay. It might get boring
or repetitive for you but children like familiar things. Reading
the same book also helps children learn to read.
- Each
one of my four children has a favorite lullaby that I must sing.
What is interesting is that each has a different favorite! Sometimes
I try to change things around and sing something else for the
sake of variety but it never works. Find out which song your child
likes, or even make one up, and make that part of your special
time together. As my four year old once told me when I tried to
get out of singing one night since my throat was sore, “That’s
okay Mommy. I can still hear your voice.”
When
children relate going to bed with getting reassurance and love from
the people they love, bedtime is a lot easier.
Source:
http://www.chiff.com
by Katrina Cramer-Diaz
