It’s not surprising that quality sleep is beneficial for all children of different age groups. They often have a busy day, from learning in the classroom to recess. Their growing bodies need to recuperate and eliminate stress. Moreover, adequate sleep enables their brains to sort and store information while replacing essential chemicals. Despite these benefits, many kids aren’t fond of going to bed as they may think they are missing something. Others aren’t tired enough. However, you don’t have to engage in a tug of war each night when putting your kids to sleep. Here are some exciting ways to get them excited about bedtime.
- Encourage them to be active during the day
As stated earlier, kids can still have pent-up energy they didn’t use during the day, causing them to be restless during bedtime. Getting them to close their eyes can be nearly impossible when this happens. Therefore, encouraging them to use their energy before bedtime is helpful. The good news is that there are several ways to achieve this, and you can rest assured that your kids will love them. For instance, you can turn on groovy music and let them dance their little hearts out. A kid’s sing-along or dance-along video can work just fine. Alternatively, take them outside for a quick run or back ride. You can make it a family affair by organizing evening family games or going for family walks, so feel free to consider this.
- Get rid of the screens
The last thing you want your kids to do is to be on their smart devices before bed. This is because blue light from smart devices and televisions can prevent your system from producing enough melatonin, suppressing the desire to sleep. Moreover, the desire for your kids to chat with their friends or play their favorite games late into the night. To prevent this, make a strict rule preventing them from checking their smart devices before bed. The question now is, how do you keep them entertained? The answer is reverting back to when smart devices weren’t common. This means stocking your home with educative and interesting books to read to them every night. This can also build their vocabulary while preparing them for a restful sleep.
- Create fun bedtime rituals
Another trick worth considering is creating fun bedtime rituals, activities you will perform with your kids before they head to bed. Bedtime rituals have been proven to help kids fall asleep earlier and have a refreshing rest. This, in turn, prepares them for the next day and improves their academic prowess. Plus, they are less likely to be irritable, which is great for their social life. Likewise, it allows them to fall asleep without external help. Seeing these benefits, you want to create your unique rituals if you haven’t already. It’s important to keep your kids in mind, as you don’t want them to get bored. For instance, you can brush your teeth with them every night before bed; not only does this prepare them for sleep, but they can learn good dental hygiene habits. You can also encourage them to share how their day went in school, including their activities, the new friends they made, and so on. Telling funny or exciting tales about your childhood can work well, so feel free to consider this.
- Make them as comfortable as possible
Your children may find it very hard to fall asleep if they don’t feel comfortable. This can happen for various reasons, like uncomfortable sleep attire, a less-than-conducive environment, and the like. Therefore, make it a point to make them as cozy as possible. For starters, ensure they are wearing quality PJ’s for bed. You can search online for a range of styles with high-quality fabric such as bamboo childrens pajamas, which will help your little ones sleep comfortably. Likewise, the room temperature should suit your kids’ preferences, so keep this in mind. You also want to make sure that their bedding is well-arranged and soft enough. Close the curtains and prevent external noises from seeping into their rooms.
- Practice meditation with your kids
A relaxed mind is likelier to accept rest, and what better way to do so than meditating? Encouraging your kids to meditate before bed can be beneficial for many reasons. For starters, falling asleep becomes easier and faster, as they can release anxiety and stress. Likewise, it can improve their mood and brain function, so feel free to consider this. You can help them imbibe this habit by meditating with them every day before bed. It can even be part of your bedtime ritual.
