Category: Top » Family » Parenting »


Author: Lily Morgan | Total views: 7 Comments: 0
Word Count: 572 Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 8:18 AM

Getting Kids Ready For Bed

There are many ways to get your kids ready for bed, but how many of those ideas actually work out well? Getting children ready for bedtime can be a challenge that very few of us have the patience to endure. Yet here we are, night after night, attempting the impossible and trying to put our kids to bed without any trouble to allow them to rest comfortably for a peaceful sleep. Avoiding the kicking, arguing, negotiating and fighting can seem improbable at best. There has to be a better way, right?

Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to help the process of getting your kids ready for bed go a little bit better. There is no right or wrong way of performing the task, and your family needs to choose the method that works for you, not what works for others. Feel free to experiment with some of the suggestions to help make the process easier on you and your child. Sooner or later, you'll find that you will have your child resting comfortably in his or her bed and drifting off to dreamland in style.

• Set a routine – make sure that bedtime is at the same time every night, and stick to a routine. When kids have a predictable bedtime routine and a bedtime that is at the same time every night, even on weekends, they feel more comfortable and will adapt to a schedule quicker than if bedtime is sporadic and at all different times.

• Plan weekend activities – plan activities for your child on the weekends that will help them wake up at the same time. Provide lots of morning activities on days when there is no school or daycare and give kids a chance to build energy throughout the day.

• Limit “active play” - before you put your child to sleep, try to limit any sort of activity and slow things down two hours before bed. Start preparing your child for bed with a little bit of light reading, bedtime tasks such as brushing teeth and other bedtime rituals like evening prayers or reading a story.

• Customize a bedtime ritual – one of the best things you can do for your child is involve him or her in the process of customizing their bedtime process. Have your child choose relaxing activities to do before bed that will help slow thoughts down and prepare for sleep. Once you pick things to do before bed with your child, ensure that you keep the order of those activities the same each night.

• Make your child comfortable – make sure that your child is as comfortable as possible before bed. Any sleepwear should be comfortable and selected by the child, letting him or her choose a favorite stuffed animal or blanket is a good idea, and the bed should be comfortable and suited specifically for the child.

Putting your child to bed properly can seem like a daunting and complicated task, but by setting up a simple routine that you can duplicate each night, you can turn the once-difficult process into an enjoyable experience of bonding between parent and child. Try some of the above hints and ensure your child's comfort each night by making sure the child has a comfortable bed to sleep in and a room that makes him or her feel at home.

About the Author

Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop our great selection of kids furniture (including our popular toddler beds) and classic toys. Visit www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!




Rate, comment or bookmark this article

Seed Newsvine

Rating: Not yet rated

Bookmark this article in your preferred program
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Comments RSS

No comments posted.

Add Comment

Your Name:


Your Email:


Comment

Enter the code shown

Visual CAPTCHA



Popular Articles in this cathegory

1: An Adult Bedwetting Message Board - Find Out How Others Are Coping
An adult bedwetting message board and chat line is an easy way for adults coping with enuresis to get helpful ideas from others in the same situation. There are many sites on the Internet that deal sp..

2: Single Parents And The Rise of Crime Rates Among Children
The hardest thing to face as a single parent are the intense emotions associated with being both a mother and a father to a child.

3: What Kind Of Parent Are You?
Psychological research has identified two broad dimensions of parental behavior that influence greatly the development of children and their personalities. These parental factors, first noted by Diana..

4: First Birthday Princess Party Ideas
Your little princess is turning one and and there's no better way to celebrate than with a princess birthday party Whether you want to keep it simple or make it very extravagant, a princess party can fit your needs and budget

5: 10 Fun Baby Nursery Ideas From Fire Truck Fare To Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes
Your baby nursery idea will begin to take shape while you shop for a crib and other furniture Just be prepared to be overwhelmed at first by the mind boggling choice of themes


Creative Commons License
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Spanish taslation