They allow room for flexibility and change For me, I created a slider and it makes my kids very excited to complete their bedtime routine and get into bed.Ĭlick here to watch how you can create this. To spice things up, you can encourage your child to design their own bedtime charts. The only criteria I set was that they have to brush their teeth after milk, otherwise they can decide the sequence of events at bedtime. I involve my kids in deciding their bedtime routine with a bedtime routine chart. When you let your child decide the sequence of events, he feels important and you stand a higher chance of gaining his cooperation at bedtime. But your child insists on doing it the other way around. Children love to be in control, by letting them decide their routines (within boundaries of course), children feel a sense of ownership.įor example, you intended for your child to read his book AFTER putting on his pyjamas. The fight-flight-freeze responses may become even more evident during bedtimes, mealtimes and other transitions.Ī simple bedtime routine opened the doors for choice-making which in turn fosters healthy self-esteem and increased independence. With consistent routines, children learns to trust and starts to get a sense that the world is safe and reliable.Ĭhildren who have been experiencing unpredictability and constant changes daily may feel stressed when something new occurs. This is especially true for children with a low adaptability temperament. As young children are not emotionally matured yet, changes in schedules can turn their lives upside down. Having routines provides a sense of predictability for children.

They provide a sense of predictability and offer stability during times of stress and transition

Routines are a sequence of actions or habits performed on a regular basis.įor example, a morning routine could look like this: wash face, brush teeth, change clothes and eat breakfast, whereas a bedtime routine could look like this: shower, drink milk, brush teeth, read a book, sleep. Inside: What is a bedtime routine for children? How do I establish a bedtime routine for kids? How to manage children who refuse to sleep at night? How to use bedtime routines so children sleep better.įree download: Bedtime routine slider template, includes a blank template that is customizable for your children of all ages!

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