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Establishing a well thought out and implemented bedtime routine will help you ease your child to sleep rather than fight him to bed.
1. One of the first basic rules is an active child will rest better at night. Be sure to allow your child plenty of time outdoors to run and play. If your child takes a nap during the day, the afternon playtime is especially crucial for resting at bedtime. Active play is as important as any other part of your child's day.
2. Begin the calming down process at dinnertime. Dinner should not be served watching television every night. If your family enjoys T.V. dinners, so to speak, only do it a couple of times each week. After dinner, do something relaxing such as take a walk. It does not have to be a long trek. A simple stroll around the backyard is sufficient. (Chances are it will also calm you and a child can sense when his parents are stressed or tense.)
3. Allow a child some quiet playtime. Offer blocks, books, puzzles or anything that will be conducive to creative playtime. As long as the activity is relatively quiet, it will help prepare the child for rest. Do not be upset if occasionally Dad wants to have a wrestle fest during this normally calm time. The child still has plenty of time to wind down before bed. If nothing else, it might tire him out even more.
4. Sit your child down for a snack and a drink. Getting some food and drink in his tummy will help alleviate the need for you to have to bring him anything once he is tucked in bed. Be sure the snack is not very sugary. Although there are no conclusive findings on sugar and hyperactivity, bedtime is not the time to experiment.
5. Run a nice warm bath. Allow a minimum of fifteen minutes playtime in the tub, after the initial washing and shampooing. Buy a supply of creative bathtub toys only to be used within the tub.
6. After the bath, take care of all of the "have to's". Get your child in a routine of getting dressed for bed, brushing his teeth, and cleaning up his mess. Establishing good dental health at an early age will help him to easily continue effective brushing practices into adulthood.
7. Put your child in bed with a few books. Set a time limit and allow your child some relaxing reading time before bed. Making the books seem like a special treat every night will help foster a love of reading. Make sure your child understands that after the set time limit that it will be bedtime, no arguments. Allow a ten to fifteen minute reading time but no longer than thirty minutes. Always feel free to join in on this time if your child would like to hear you read or tell him a story.
8. After reading time, put the books away. Before leaving your child's room, give him a tight hug and a kiss. Never miss an opportunity to tell your child that you love him. Love helps establish security in your child. Tuck your child lovingly into bed and say goodnight.
9. After you have said goodnight, turn on a tape or compact disc of classic music. An actual lullaby recording is an acceptable choice. Play the same music everynight. It will eventually become a soothing bedtime ritual.
10. Be firm to your established routine. The less you deviate from it the easier bedtime will become. There will be times that the routine will be on the back burner to a particular family outing or get together. As long as, the times are few and far between the routine will not be forgotten.
A child will want to continue the routine as much as you will.
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