One of the most stressful and common problems that parents and kids face today is bedtime. Seventy percent of kids say that they worry, and 69 percent of parents say that they would like to improve bedtime routine. When children don’t get enough sleep they feel moody, have trouble concentrating and find it harder to complete tasks. Children that have enough sleep perform better academically and socially.
Tips to Improve Bedtime Routine:
- Focus on Relaxation – One thing you can do to make bedtime stress free is focus on relaxation instead of the actual act of falling asleep. And you can encourage relaxation with things like aromatherapy and eye pillows. I used to take a drop of lavender oil and put it on my child’s sleep spot and they would fall asleep much more easily. Eye pillows over their eyes are soothing and also encourage them to keep their eyes closed. Don’t forget a little massage. A few minutes of massaging someone’s back could knock out an hour off of your bedtime.
- Set the Mood – It’s important to make the whole energy of the house settle down before bedtime. Dim the lights, lower the volume, shut the TV off. And I would avoid playing simulating video games before bedtime. If you have older children in the house, it’s especially important because the younger children feel the awakeness and the energy of the older kids and it’s very hard to get them to sleep. So focus on relaxation and bringing the energy down a notch and you’ll see sleep happen a lot easier.
- Create a Peaceful Space – Paint your child’s room a soothing color. Something that will lull them off into dreamland. Bright reds and oranges aren’t usually the best to make a child feel calm. Light blues and greens and tans are calming. Let your children participate in the color selection. Even painting a dolphin on the wall can help them to think of oceans and dolphins and helps them go to sleep easier. A little effort can go a long way.
- Improve Relationships – With a little effort, you can turn bedtime into a relaxing, fun, bonding experience for you and your child. Before you know it you‘ll be high-fiving your husband and have a lot of extra time on your hands to enjoy each other’s company. Sweet dreams.
My Indigo Dreams CD Series helps to improve bedtime for children, teens, and adults. I created each and every story to entertain and relax my own children.
Relaxing Bedtime Stories Help Children With Bedtime Problems Fall Asleep
Indigo Teen Dreams Helps Teens Fall Asleep
Indigo Dreams: Adult Relaxation Promotes Peaceful Sleep and Reduces Insomnia
Stress Free Kids founder Lori Lite is a freelance blogger, social media strategist, parenting expert, and successful entrepreneur. Her line of books and CDs are designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, anxiety, and anger. Ms. Lite’s books, CDs, and lesson plans are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, doctors, and yoga instructors. Lori’s award winning books received national attention on Shark Tank and her sort after accessible tips have been featured in hundreds of publications to include: CNN Living, Real Simple Magazine, USA Today, Family Circle, Working Mother Magazine, and Web MD. For more information visit Stress Free Kids and for daily advice follow Lori on Twitter and Facebook.
