| Our active, energetic children often resist the rest time | | | | alarm at getting ready.” This gives you the opening |
| period, whether it is naptime or bedtime they may turn | | | | to positively reward your child for his efforts at getting |
| it into a chase time, crying time, tantrum time or may | | | | himself all the way through the basic bedtime routine. |
| be read another time to avoid the dreaded bed. | | | | Make sure you allow a fair amount of time for your |
| Stand firm with your child, stick to a time you have set | | | | child to get the job done. |
| for your child to rest, you may need to help your child | | | | When the routine is completed, reset the alarm for |
| wind down before naptime or bedtime and perhaps a | | | | what's left of the hour you set aside for bedtime and |
| short story or may be a gentle massage to help relax | | | | then say, “Because you were very good and beat |
| the unwilling at sleep time. | | | | the alarm, you now get to stay up and play until the |
| As your child gets older his sleep pattern is likely to | | | | alarm goes off again telling us it’s time to hop into |
| change, and you may find you will need to start again, | | | | bed. |
| it may require letting him stay up later or shorten his | | | | Now it’s time to set the alarm for brushing our |
| daytime naps as he grows. | | | | teeth, having a little drink, and using the potty (if old |
| Preventing The Problem: | | | | enough) or going to the toilet before getting into bed. |
| Firstly, establish a bedtime routine. Before bedtime or | | | | Using the alarm bedtime routine help’s you and |
| naptime ensure a calm approach with a special feeling, | | | | your child have fun preparing for bedtime, your child will |
| only you and your child enjoys at these times of the | | | | enjoy the game involved in the bedtime routine. |
| day or night maybe a short story, a gentle back rub or | | | | Follow The Same Custom Regardless Of Time: |
| very softly stroking his hair as part of going-to-bed | | | | Even if it is past his normal bedtime, it is important to |
| routine. | | | | go through the same pattern as the usual bedtime to |
| Putting in the effort to make bedtime and naptimes a | | | | help your child learn what’s expected of him when |
| special event gives your child more than just going to | | | | its time for going to bed. |
| bed to look forward to. | | | | Don’t mention how late he’s been up, speed up |
| It may even involve a story you both tell by making it | | | | the pace give your child a hand getting ready, using the |
| up as you go along, or maybe a talk on a subject your | | | | alarm set it for shorter times. Although the pressure is |
| child is interested in. | | | | on its important you don’t leave out any of the |
| Include exercise a daily habit | | | | regular steps. |
| Plain for your child to get plenty of exercise during his | | | | Keep The Same organized Routine: |
| day, as this helps his body letting his mind know going | | | | Because young children find comfort in regularity, have |
| to bed has a good feeling. | | | | your child take his bath, brush his teeth, and put his |
| Setting A Regular Rest Time: | | | | pajamas on, in the same order each night. |
| Don’t let your child control his rest time with late | | | | Ask your child to tell you what he thinks the next step |
| afternoon or evening rests, it becomes a problem at | | | | is in the routine; this helps him feel he has some say |
| bedtime to expect him to wind down for the night. | | | | and being more involved. |
| Putting your child down early in the day for his rest | | | | Offer Rewards For Good Bedtime Behavior: |
| period will ensure less drama for bedtime. | | | | Speak to your child upon waking making a comment |
| Quality Time Before Bed: | | | | about him going to so bed nicely is worthwhile. Say to |
| Spending time with your child before bed will help | | | | him, “Seems you were so good going off to bed, I |
| prevent him from putting on a performance just to get | | | | would like to read you an extra story.” Or another |
| more of your attention. | | | | idea is, have a special calendar for your child and get |
| Keep Bedtime Consistent. | | | | him to place stickers on his good bedtime days, your |
| To find out how much sleep your child may need by | | | | child will find this very rewarding. |
| taking note of how he acts when he has had his | | | | What Not To Do: |
| daytime nap and when he hasn’t, and when he has | | | | Don’t Let Your Child Be In Charge Of Bed time: |
| gone to bed at nine o’clock compared to seven | | | | Stand firm with your selected bedtime regardless of |
| o’clock. | | | | your Childs performance. |
| Establish a regular sleep timetable that suits your | | | | Keeping in mind you know why he doesn’t want to |
| child’s needs, this pattern is likely to change, as he | | | | go to bed—and why he should. Tell yourself, |
| gets older. | | | | “He’s crying because he doesn’t want to go |
| A Solution: | | | | to bed and take a nap as he’s happy to play, but |
| An hour before bedtime or even at naptime this idea | | | | you know with him having his nap now he will be |
| can be used, set an alarm clock for five minutes and | | | | happier later. |
| let your child know when the alarm goes off its telling | | | | Don’t Intimidate Or Smack Your Child: |
| him its time to start getting ready for bed. | | | | Threatening your child to make him go to bed may |
| This avoids unexpected surprises and helps your child | | | | cause bad dreams; fear’s and leaves your child |
| except what is required in the next stage, when the | | | | unsettled, not to mention how you are going to feel |
| alarm sounds, simply say, “The alarm is telling us its | | | | when his performance continues. |
| time to start getting ready for bed. Let’s have a | | | | Punishing your child won’t teach him suitable |
| bath, or wash up and put our pajamas on.” | | | | behavior. |
| Reset the alarm for fifteen minutes and say to your | | | | As an alternative, use an alarm as an impartial |
| child, “let’s see how we go with beating the | | | | influence to control when naptime or bedtime arrives. |