Bedtime Routines
The Big Picture – have bedtime be a happy time. Consider the child’s needs as well as your own when deciding a bed time.
Things to do:
- Set a routine and keep it. Be gentle but firm.
- Slow the pace and energy of pre-bedtime activities.
- Give warning ahead of time: “In 15 minutes it will be time to get ready for bed.”
- Teach the child what the clock looks like when it is bed time.
- Have your child get in PJ’s an hour ahead and let him or her play in them until bedtime.
- Make up a story about the child’s day, a place the child visited, something the child wants to grow up to be or do.
- Talk about the day, include ending with good things.
- Have your child draw a picture of “what you might do tomorrow.”
- Read to your child. Snuggling together with a good book can be calming for both parent and child.
- Let your child talk about the day’s worries and put them in a “worry” bag.
- Let your child read in bed.
- If there is a TV in the bedroom, find a way of locking it off at bedtime.
- Tuck your child in.
- Respond to fears with reassurance. Talk with your child about night sounds and identify what they are.
- Provide a nightlight or flashlight.
- Respond to fears with reassurance. Talk with your child about night sounds and identify what they are.
- Tell your child what you are going to be doing when you leave the room. “First I’ll be in the bathroom, then I’ll go to the kitchen and make a cup of tea, then I’ll be in the living room.” Tell your child to think about you doing each of these things.
- Have an inexpensive record, tape or cd player for the child and let him or her play one long playing recording.
