Sleep Tight: How to Create an Evening Routine for Kids That Works

Did you know that setting up a routine is one of the first steps to creating positive habits? This is true for both adults and children. In fact, 92% of people who have a set morning routine are highly productive. What we learn early on in life will stick with us throughout adulthood. Of course, there are other reasons why having an evening routine is essential for the littles.

Are you looking to perfect or create a bedtime routine for the kids? Keep reading!

Bedtime Routines for Kids: Why It's Important

One of the first signs that you need a routine is that the kids won't go to bed. Humans are creatures of habit, and if the routine is disrupted or not there, we have a hard time getting things right.

The importance of an evening routine is evident when it makes your life as a parent a little easier, but it is also essential for the health of your babies. A consistent schedule, in general, has many benefits, but it is proven that we sleep better with a schedule as well.

With better sleep comes better performance in school and cognitive behavior towards peers and authority figures. But that is not the only benefit of a good night's sleep. Studies also show that children with a consistent sleeping schedule tend to perform better later in life.

Building an Evening Routine: What to Include

As you can see, there are many benefits to sticking to a schedule. So what should you include?

A study shows that the following habits are beneficial to add to a sleeping schedule:

• Healthy bedtime snack
• Bath or washing up
• Brushing teeth
• Read a book
• Sing a song
• Cuddles
• Chatting about their day

Sleeping in a clean bed and clean clothes after a bath can improve their overall health, but they will also learn the importance of good personal hygiene early on in life. The same study shows that oral care is often lacking in infants and toddlers, so try to teach them these dental hygiene tips from the very beginning.

Bedtime Routine Dos and Don’ts

While any type of routine is better than none, there are some things you should include and also some things you should leave out.

We know that families are busy, and sometimes it is hard to stick to a schedule, but try to implement the following:

• Stick to it every day
• Create other routines during the day
• Make the kids feel wanted
• Teach them something valuable
• Make slow changes

The following items can make the evening routine difficult to follow:

• Screen time
• High sugar content
• Active activities right before bed
• Scary stories

While sticking to a routine is important, please don't make it a rule. If your kids are coming home late from soccer practice, skip some routine parts. Overtired kids can become hyperactive, which will keep them from falling asleep.

Creating Evening Routines: Start Today

An evening routine is essential for both young and old. If you teach your kids early on that sticking to a schedule is beneficial, they may have a higher chance of succeeding later.

Are you looking for more parenting tips? Please keep browsing our blog!

Can you share any Evening routine examples with us?