Bedtime Routine For Kids — One of the reason I used to love summer is that we could relax a little bit on the strict bedtime routine that the school year required. I didn’t sweat it as much if the kids were still un-showered and playing outside as dusk fell.
When the school year returned, though, that laid back attitude did not fly. I was strict about bedtimes, and for a couple of reasons.
One, I was usually spent by the end of the day. I was ready for some R&R–or at the very least, less noise. Two, if my kids didn’t get enough sleep, they were bears to deal with the next day.
They were whiney in the morning, and quick to tears by the evening. So, at the Butterfield house, bedtime became a pretty strict business. Getting them into that routine, however, wasn’t always easy. Life obligations occasionally got in the way, and there was nothing I could do about that.
If you are struggling to get back into a bedtime routine, here are some tips to help you get the kiddos all nestled into their beds, so that you can curl up with a book…or just sit and stare blankly at a wall in peace.
Bedtime Routine For Kids – 7 Great Tips
About and hour or two before bedtime offer a final snack.
Make sure that they know that this is the last call for the kitchen. That way, they can’t pull, “I’m huuunngry,” right as you tell them it’s time for bed.
Decide on a bedtime.
This is non-negotiable. It means you may have to say no to other activities. If 8 p.m. is bedtime, then make it a priority and avoid being out past 8 p.m. if at all possible.
Create a bedtime routine.
If baths are part of your nightly ritual, start them about 45 minutes BEFORE lights out. Bathe, brush teeth, read a book. Your child will start to associate the routine with bedtime, and eventually, their bodies will comply.
If you have a child that is resistant to bedtimes, be firm.
But don’t let them see you get riled up {waaaay easier said than done!}. If they keep getting out of bed, don’t say a word, simply gently guide them back into bed. The key is not to speak. They want attention–any will do. The less you give, the less fun staying awake becomes. You may have to escort them back to bed several times a night for several nights. If you remain firm, they WILL stay in bed…eventually.
Rest assured that you are doing them a favor.
Sleep is when their bodies regenerate. They need it for their health. By strictly enforcing bedtime, you are giving their health a priority. Plain and simple. Seriously, changing your mindset about it will totally change the mood of bedtime.
For older kids, allow a little personal time in bed.
Allow them to read for 15 minutes before lights out. Tell them what time you want lights out and then act as though you are giving them soooo much freedom by allowing them 15 minutes to unwind in bed. Older kids eat that stuff up.
Go to bed yourself.
Kids are watching–they know if YOU are making sleep a priority. If you have a strict bedtime for yourself, make sure to play up each morning how chipper and rested you feel. It may seem overdone, but little ones are creating habits, and a lot of times, they create their habits by watching you.
I know lots of you have great tips for getting your kids to bed on time…make sure to share the love in the comments below!
~Mavis
Angie says
Love this post Mavis!
I have a 7 yr old boy and bedtime is a strictly held practice in my house. He is high energy, active, and relies on a good night’s rest to function at his best the next day. For us this means that we don’t attend church on weekdays – something that we would very much like to do. We also don’t engage in activities such as sports or clubs that will interfere with that bedtime.
I know that this is not the road a lot of parents take but this is something that we see benefits our son in a profound way. Behavior issues come when he does not get the rest that he needs or the time at home spent with family to refill his cup.
All of that said he is growing up every day and I know that there will come a time that he will be able to manage himself even if he doesn’t get to bed on time. Until then I am trying my level best to make sure he gets a good nights sleep every night.
Kathy says
About 3 weeks before school started, I started getting my boys back into their school bedtime routine. As they had to be up by 6AM to be out for the bus by 7:45, they did go to bed quite a bit earlier than their friends, who laughed at them (and their parents at me) because of it. Well, they were never hard to wake, always had a good breakfast and not once did they miss that bus. Their friends? Screaming matches, hardly any breakfast and running to catch bus. Snack if needed while doing any homework, some playing outside, weather/time permitting, dinner, private time (usually separate baths) story time for both as they shared a room, bed by 7:30 the latest. As they got older, time changed according to age until high school. If they woke late (because of staying up late) and missed the bus, their feet did the walking as we were a one car household and it was usually gone by 7. They are now grateful for the rules of bedtime as they both have set one for themselves, as adults living on their own.
Linda Sand says
Getting up in the morning is as important as going to bed at night. Don’t let the kids hang around in their pajamas. Up, dressed, and bed made in a timely manner is critical to going to sleep at night. We got our daughter an alarm clock when she was in first grade to make getting up her job–none of this “Just 5 more minutes, Mom,” that would then leave her tired all day but not tired at bedtime.
Vy says
I completely agree about bedtime routines, we had a strict bedtime and it worked wonders. The only thing was I didn’t get into bed myself as I was a single mom by that point and it was my only chance to do the things I needed for my own mental health after they were in bed, like reading a book or taking a bath or even just meal prepping for the week ahead. But I was very calm and non-negotiable about 8pm bedtime and it worked wonders for years. A tip as they were getting into their teen years … we set an “internet” alarm. I had two separate internet streams, one for me that was open 24/7 and one for them that closed down one hour before bedtime. The alarm clock was set in the living room and it went off 30 minutes before “internet off” so they knew to get homework etc done, and the internet would automatically turn off 30 minutes later. The nice thing about that is I could change the password when needed and dole it out according to who had done chores, who was allowed an hour of internet free time, age appropriate access etc. The kids knew not to ever sneak it to a sibling or they’d be grounded themselves and I was merciless with it. If someone was grounded, I’d even lock it down under special “dirty chores.” Though one child was way too smart and kept a list of my passwords and my “patterns” and would go through a bunch of permutations hoping to get lucky … the one week she figured out the password three days in a row and sold them to her siblings … lets just say when mom found out there were many, many dirty chores handed out that month! The house and yard were never cleaner.