The running around, the late nights, the holiday excitement and stress…it’s enough to keep adults wide awake every night, but just think of the children! With all the hustle and bustle (and winter break looming,) it’s easy for your children’s sleep schedules to be off kilter for the next month or so.
It's hard enough getting children to fall asleep, much less stay asleep. Now throw an exciting holiday season into the mix and time off from school and it calls for some tired kids (and parents.)
To make sure that your children (and you!) stay on Santa's "nice" list this year, try using a few of the following sleep tips for children from the Better Sleep Council:
1. Develop a pleasant, soothing sleep ritual. Don't roughhouse or play games that may be too stimulating. Choose quiet activities, such as working on a puzzle or reading a bedtime story.
2. Don't arbitrarily decide how much sleep a child needs at different ages. The best way to know how much sleep your little ones need is to wake them up at the same time every morning for several days. Notice if they need naps during the day and when they become tired in the evening. Use your observation as a guide to setting a reasonable bedtime for each child--and then stick to it.
3. Rely on an impersonal signal for bedtime. By doing so, you can avoid a struggle over authority. Teach young children where the hands of the clock are at bedtime, for example, and have the clock "tell" them when it is time for bed. Another good signal is the end of a favorite evening television show.
4.Distinguish between bedtime and sleep time. While you should set a definite hour for your children to be in bed, don't try and force them to sleep at this time. Let them play quietly with stuffed animals or listen to soothing music until sleep overtakes them.
5. Be flexible! Let your children stay up a little later when family comes to town, or especially during big events like the holidays. Try and appeal to their sense of reason though by pointing out that staying up too late will make it harder for them to enjoy the next day.
6. Be sure and monitor what your kids are watching on tv or the computer. While they may not seem scared or over stimulated during a show, images may creep into their mind later on, making it hard to sleep.
Comments