What Should Be Part of Your Kids’ Bedtime Routine?

Good sleep is essential for any child, no matter their age. Children are rapidly growing and developing. They are often very busy and require a lot of energy. Therefore, helping them to sleep by establishing a good bedtime routine is essential for their health and development. With a good night’s rest, your children will be more emotionally resilient, have better physical health, and will do better in school. But what does a good bedtime routine look like?

Reading Them a Book

Even before your children can speak, reading books to them is an extremely beneficial activity you should be doing with them every day. Books help children pick up on new vocabulary words and important social skills. It helps their brains to develop and prepares them for school. Furthermore, it allows them to have great one-on-one bonding time with you. Therefore, reading them a book or two before bedtime is an absolute must for their nightly routine.

Brushing Teeth

Learning good habits is something that should start earlier in life rather than later. As a parent, you are responsible for helping your children develop these healthy habits. An important habit to do with your children before bed is brushing their teeth. Poor brushing habits can lead your kids to have discolored teeth and other health problems. But don’t just grab a tooth brush and shove it in their mouths; rather, try to take the time to help teach them how to brush their teeth correctly.

Turning Off Electronics

Electronics aren’t all bad, but they sure can disrupt a child’s nighttime routine and keep them from getting a good night’s sleep. The blue light emitted by your electronics can mess with your children’s internal clock, leading them to feel restless and awake at night. Therefore, as part of their bedtime routine, make sure that all electronics are put away at least one hour before bedtime. Instead, allow them to quietly read a book or listen to some gentle music if they are struggling to fall asleep.

Lastly, the most important aspect of a bedtime routine is consistency. No matter what you decide to add into your children’s bedtime routine—a book, a lullaby, a cup of warm milk, etc.—you should try to implement the routine as consistently as possible. You can do this by setting a consistent bedtime (yes, even on the weekends) and by sticking to a specific schedule (i.e. first a bath, then a story, then a…). Doing so will ensure that your little ones grow up healthy and strong.

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