There is no perfect bedtime routine and even when you have a good one, there may still be times when bedtime descends into total chaos and you are tearing your hair out. However, at least if you have a routine, your family all know what to expect at bedtime and more often than not it will go as planned and be a special time that you spend together.
Children love repetition. They can feel safer and more secure with structure and repetition in their lives. With an established bedtime routine they know what bedtime means and if you are firm but caring with them when it comes to this time of the day they will feel comforted by the familiarity of the process. In turn this will make it easier for them to settle and help them learn how to relax and soothe themselves.
These feelings of confidence and safety are great at bedtime as they can help disperse fears such as monsters under the bed, but they also spread into their daily lives helping their emotional development.
It is entirely up to you what you include in your routine and how long it lasts but when you plan a routine for your children, make sure it is one that you will be able to stick to as it’s the consistency that is really important.
In our next post we’ll cover some effective tips for establishing a good bedtime routine.
