Create bedtime rituals that promote healthy development, family bonding, and motivate kids to get to sleep... the benefits of bedtime routines for your child and family are well worth it!
Bedtime Routines are Important
Regular bedtime routines contribute to healthy sleep and child development. Bedtime routines positively impact "language development, literacy, child emotional and behavioral regulation, parent-child attachment, and family functioning" (Mindell & Williamson, 2018, pp. 93).
Bedtime routines meet children's social, physical, and emotional needs - providing attention, connection, hygiene habits, and stress release, which all contribute to their well-being (Bright Horizons, 2019).
Aspects of a healthy bedtime routine include:
Nutrition - evening meal time, healthy snacks
Hygiene - bath time, oral care
Communication - reading, lullabies
Physical Contact - cuddling, massaging
Different routines work for different families, but what is important is meeting children's needs and supporting healthy development.
“Remember, how we meet basic family needs is less important than that we meet them.” (Bright Horizons, 2019)
Add meaningful connection time to evening routines...
1. Establish after-school rituals that start the unwinding process early, opening up time to slow down and talk about the day.
2. Have a family dinner together, and ask children to participate in preparing it.
3. Everybody clean up... Before bed, have everyone chip in for 10 minutes to leave the house neat for the next day.
4. Turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime... use the time for a walk, playing board games, talking, and reading.
Make Bedtime Reading a Priority
Reading to children instills a lifelong love of reading and contributes to healthy emotional bonds. Bedtime routines and story time create a home culture of stability, caring, and enthusiasm for learning.
“What builds the foundation of emergent literacy skills? Especially in early years, children's home experiences are central in the development of language and literacy.” (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 93)
Parent Resources:
References:
Bright Horizons. (2019). Creating a night routine for your family. Bright Horizons Education. Retrieved from https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/how-to-create-a-productive-evening-routine-for-your-family.
Mindell, J. & Williamson, A. (2018). Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children: Sleep, development, and beyond. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 40 (1), pp. 93-108.
Woolfolk, A. (2019). Educational Psychology (14th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.
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