A huge fuss is often made about having a good bedtime schedule. And make no mistake, a good it’s very important.
However, it’s also wise to consider what you do to get ready for bed, as well. Teaching your children to stick to a good bedtime routine is a great way to help them tap into a variety of different healthy habits throughout their lives.
So, without further ado, here are a few suggestions for different healthy habits that you can help your kids learn as they get ready to go to bed each night.
Practice Good Hygiene
Hygiene is the number one thing people think about before going to bed and with good reason. A pre-bed routine is an ideal time to take care of yourself. You can begin to establish healthy habits in your children by encouraging them to:
- Brush their teeth: Brushing and flossing are essential parts of good dental habits for your children.
- Brush their hair: If your kids have long hair, brushing it before bed is a good way to keep snarls and knots from forming.
- Take a bath: Your kids need to wash themselves regularly. Depending on their age, your child should bathe anywhere from a couple to a few times a week. Even when they don’t bathe, things like washing their hands and their faces should still factor into the nighttime routine.
- Get dressed: Have your child switch from day clothes to pajamas so that they can sleep in clean comfort. This may also be a good time to have them swap out any soiled undergarments, as well.
While you always want to have a backup plan to cover any unexpected medical bills, it’s always better to head off illness with proper hygiene. This process starts with small habits like brushing teeth and taking a bath consistently.
Consider Their Sleeping Space
Along with their own cleanliness, it’s also wise to teach your children about the importance of keeping their rooms clean. Decluttering their space is good for mental health and it can help relieve anxiety and stress before going to bed.
Have your children get used to a basic cleaning and neatening routine for their bedrooms. This could be worked into their daily chores or it could take place right before bed. As they get ready to douse the lights, it’s also a good idea to have them shut the curtains, check to see if air purifiers or humidifiers are on, and anything else that helps to create a conducive sleeping environment.
Avoid Certain Things Right Before Bed
While hygiene and the state of their sleeping environment are important, it’s also wise to consider what activities your children don’t do in the run-up to bedtime.
For example, it’s recommended that you only let your children use their beds for sleeping. Parents should also strive to create a soothing, relaxing sleep environment for their children by avoiding sleep distractions like tablets, phones, televisions, and other electronics. This avoids the harmful impact of blue light, which is known to inhibit the production of melatonin and throw off the circadian rhythm both of which are bad for sleep.
It’s also a good idea to avoid other things like heavy meals and intense exercise right before bed. Instead, focus on facilitating a calming, sleep-inducive atmosphere that helps your child slow down both their bodies and their brains.
Talk Through the Habits That You’re Trying to Form
Talking together is a critical habit for every family to maintain. This opens up the doors for a variety of different conversations. Some can be focused on allowing your child to process and ask questions. Others can be more parent-directed, such as talking about why a bedtime routine is so important.
Use your conversations to help your child grasp why their bedtime activities are important. Like as not, they don’t see the value of things like brushing teeth and taking a bath on the surface. They might also see cleaning their room as a hassle that they only have to do because you want them to. Take the time to break down each activity in your routine so that they can better understand what you’re trying to accomplish.
Another option is to take them with you when you go to the store. Then talk through the ingredients in their shampoo, hand soap, and toothpaste and have them help you identify unhealthy or unethical ingredients. In other words, do whatever you can to invite them in on the process of building long-term healthy habits in their lives.
Helping Develop Good Sleeping Habits in Your Kids
Sleep is a critical part of life. As such, it should be treated with respect from a young age. Having kids learn important self-care skills through their bedtime activities is a great way to foster long-term healthy habits.
So consider your current routine (or lack thereof) and then tailor and tweak your activity to optimize your efforts. That way bedtime won’t just another part of the day it’ll become a learning opportunity and a training ground as well.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind