How to establish a bedtime routine
Posted: December 19, 2007From 3 to 4 years old, children will be experiencing growth spurts. Sleep will be an important part of their life. Through sleep, he will likely to have optimum growth and less likely to fall sick due to over tiredness. In order to get your child to sleep well and have ample of rest(at least 10 hours sleep a night), the following are suggested guidelines that may be of help to you.
1. Set a tikme yoiu ca be consistent with.
2. Avoid rough housing and too much play time for children. Allow time for wind down before sleep
3. Avoild conflict before bedtime. Avoid power struggles with your child. Be directive and giving instructions for them to get ready for bed.
4. If possible, hire baby sistters when you have to be out at night so your children’s bedtime can be as consistent as possible.
5. Avoid offering unlimited liquids after dinner. This is especially for preschoolers who may wet their bed.
6. Consider doing your story time out on the couch or in your favourite easy chair and not in bed. This is a great time for Dad to be with the children. When story-time is over, off the bed they go. If you have story-time in the bedroom, you never finish because your child has no place else to go. ” Off the bed” helps cure the habit of “read me another story.”
7. It is best to let for young children to learn to fall asleep on their own.
8. Have a rule that they cannot get out of bed unless emergency. Ensure they understand what is and is not emergency.
9 .If your bedtime routine has been rushed or your child gets to bed late because of your schedule, you may want to consider playing soft music to help him settle down.
Source: Gary Ezzo ( PReschool Wise)
