QV
In an ideal world, children would be perfectly happy to hear it’s bedtime and fall asleep minutes after they’re tucked in. However, as parents know, sometimes children operate on their own bizarre schedules and may sometimes get an extra bout of energy at 10:30pm. Fret not! Educators at Aurora Early Education, a Rowville kindergarten, have years and years of experience in coaxing a child to sleep. Here are some of our tips.
Have A Routine
We’re all creatures of habit. Having a bedtime routine will allow your child’s body to gradually begin winding down; it’s healthier and more realistic than expecting your child to automatically switch gears from play to sleep at bed-time.
Begin by switching off the television and then taking them for a warm, calming bath. Dim the lights in their room, tuck them into bed and then spend some time telling them a story or singing to them. Make sure this ritual is at around the same time every day and your child’s biological clock will attune itself to the routine.
Sometimes, children realize that their bedtime routine has begun and decide to be just a tad uncooperative. Make it seem like the routine is working in his favor; tell him that if he comes quickly for his bath, he can have an extra story or song before lights out.
Watch That Diet!
Because their stomachs are smaller and they use up more energy through the day, children may need to eat more frequently than adults. A bedtime snack can help a child sleep easier through the night and give her a boosts of energy in the morning.
Naturally, chips, chocolates, raisins and cookies are a no-go; they’ll give your child an extreme, sugar propelled energy boost and he’ll be bouncing off walls before you know what hit you.
Instead, opt for calcium rich snacks like a warm glass of milk, low sugar yogurt or sliced cheese on whole wheat crackers. Nuts and fruit smoothies are also healthy options.
Keep Away Distractions
Imagine this; you and your child have had a bath, had a snack and are ready to head to bed. But, when they enter their room, your child sees that his building blocks are still scattered across the floor. Suddenly, he’s wide awake and ready to play. Not ideal, right?
Make sure your child’s room is distraction free by bedtime. Clean up the toys and shut the door to prevent noise and your family pet coming in and demanding attention.
Be mindful that if there’s a lot of excitement happening around the house, it’s unlikely that a toddler will go quietly to bed. Keep the rest of the household as quiet and calm as possible.
Create A Sleep Friendly Environment
At bedtime, keep your child’s room dim and cool; the best environment for inducing sleep.
Additionally, make your child’s bed a welcoming space with a soft blanket, pillow and some favorite soft toys.
Keep Them Active Through The Day
If your child has been a sitting duck all day, come nightfall she’ll still have plenty of excess energy and no inclination to sleep.
At Aurora Early Education, we have a curriculum that promotes an active lifestyle for our learners. As well as sports and activity oriented games, we conduct Yoga Sessions all of which use children’s energy to improve motor skills, encourage bonding and enhance cognitive growth.
After a busy day at Aurora and a relaxing evening with their parents, we’re sure our learners are happy to hit the hay!
Have a trip to our centres:
