What Activities are Best For Your Child's Bedtime

What Activities are Best For Your Child's Bedtime Routine?

Sleep and arousal are opposite states, which is why helping children calm their arousal system before sleep makes the transition to sleep shorter and more peaceful. 

Pre-bedtime activities that typically calm:

A consistent bedtime

Dimming lights

Massage

Low key talk time

Lullabies

Pre-bedtime activities that calm some children but alert others

Bath or shower

Reading

Pre-bedtime activities that generally alert rather than calm before sleep:

Erratic bedtimes

Bright lights

Wrestling, chasing and other vigorous activities  

Watching Videos – even supposedly low-key ones

Rushing

High sugar snacks or food containing caffeine.

Each child is unique. The key is taking note of whether your child is calm after an activity – or more alert. For example, your child may love their bath, but it is a battle to get them out of the tub, or they love to read, but end up fighting for more books. If this is the case than these activities are alerting not calming your child and are best completed at least 60 minutes before lights out.

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