Bedtime battles have been around for as long as there have been children. The process for getting your bed needn't be a prelude to World War III. It can actually be a pleasant ritual for the entire family, creating sweet dreams as opposed to a frustration-filled evening. This leaves children and parents relaxed, well rested and ready to start the next day on the right foot.
Instructions
1. Set your bedtime goals. If you are vague about this, you are setting yourself up for defeat. Have a reasonable bedtime in mind for your children. Once you have these goals in place, you may have to ease into the routine. Each week, taking your cue from the bedtime you're dissatisfied with and set bedtime one half hour earlier until you reach your goal.
2. Have your children set their own alarm clocks. If your child is responsible for setting her alarm clock each night, then she is more aware of her need for adequate sleep. It serves as a reminder and a tool to drive home the importance of adhering to her bedtime.
3. Create an atmosphere conducive for bedtime. If you send your younger ones to bed while you are clanging pots and pans in the kitchen and dad is cheering for his favorite football team in the living room, you are sabotaging your child's ability to fall to sleep without interruptions.
4. Utilize quiet time to your advantage. You only have one lifetime with your children. Use the bedtime hours to tuck them in and read them a story. For your older children, open this time up to share memories of your teen years and listen to their thoughts and dreams for the future. You may find this relaxing routine is the ultimate bonding tool for the entire family.
5. Turn off the electronics. Don't allow your children to get into the habit of falling asleep to music or the television. Any light at all, even if from the television, can interrupt proper REM time, crucial to feeling rested the next day. Confiscate their electronics just before bed to ensure that they aren't staying wired on the latest video game.
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