Last week we had the lovely Pippy the Polar bear join us for three days, and come on our adventures with us. My daughter was rather excited about this event as you can see….
Pippy is here for a few days *excited face*
We managed to get a fair number of things fitted in to her busy schedule, but the most important thing for my daughter was to insure that when Pippy went to sleep in the little bed she had made for her (in her bed of course) that we had a proper bedtime routine so she would be able to fall asleep properly….and so Chatterbox drew one for her…
I have added the caption; but I think Chatterbox has got it pretty right…some great ideas for any little child’s routine here – nevermind the school bear’s!
I think she has got this spot on!
We have always done a consistent routine at bedtime in our house, our bedtime routine charts an help you too, or perhaps you can even create your own using our reward charts and some of the behaviours our stars are demonstrating, such as brushing teeth, getting dressed (pyjamas at this end of the day), getting in the bath, etc.
Routines at bedtime are important for younger children, including babes in arms, because they:
- Help to wind down a child from the excitement of the day
- Provide definite and consistent cues to the child that its coming up to the time to sleep
- Give an opportunity, particularly at reading time, for excellent one on one time with your children (depending on how many kids you are trying to put to bed of course)
- Make your child feel safe an secure as they always know what’s coming next, which can…
- Reassure your child when they are sleeping in a difference bed/house that things are all OK, and there is an element of “normality” and consistency
- Reduce screen distractions near bedtime, which can stop kids from sleeping, e.g. TV, Tablets, Computer games, etc.
- Show that beds are for sleeping in; if that’s all you do in them, then that’s a clear indication that once a child is in bed following their wind down time, that hey – let’s go to sleep now!
Clearly Chatterbox knows how important it is for Pippy to have a good routine before she gets into bed – do you? Does your child have a routine and does it help. Do let us know.
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!