Being a single parent probably means that you arrive home after a day of work only to find the kids need supper, baths, homework needs to be done, the house needs to be picked up, and the list goes on. Therefore, once you get the children in bed, you want them to stay there. However, many children will go to bed but then find getting up is more fun. I think every parent has dealt with this issue. You get through dinner, bath time, stories have been read, songs have been sung, and a sip of water has been provided.
After carefully tucking your children in bed and giving a goodnight kiss, you turn the light off, ready for some personal down time. Now, it is your turn to relax. Just as you finish the last chores, you settle in on the couch to watch television or read a book. However, you soon get this very strange feeling that someone is watching you. As you turn around, you find your little ones staring back. While you are exhausted at the end of the day, children have some form of magic that gives them an abundance of energy, especially at bedtime.
The bad thing about children constantly getting out of bed at night is that eventually, your life and schedule will be impacted. For the single parent, this means running on little sleep and even less patience. The first tip is to create a special chart outlining each action that needs to take place in preparation for bed. If the kids are old enough, find a place where they can use colored pencils and poster board to help in the creation process. Keeping children involved, helps teach them to take ownership of the process.
Bedtime snack
Drink of water/milk/juice
Get dressed in pajamas
Brush teeth
Go to the bathroom
Read a book/sing a song/tell a story
Hugs and kisses
Switch the light off
GO TO SLEEP
This is actually very simple. The purpose of the chart is to help your associate with routine and see exactly the things he/she will have responsibility for completing. Have a place created on your chart for an “end of the week” status. For this, if your children followed the routine and stayed in bed, reward him or her for good behavior. Remember, the reward does not need to be anything expensive. Perhaps an ice cream cone or an afternoon of roller-skating is all it takes to persuade.
Getting your children on a bedtime schedule accomplishes several things. First, it allows you to get some much-needed down time after a long day at work. Second, it helps the children get the proper rest that they also need. In return, the children will be happier, study better in school, and overall, be healthier. By getting your children into bed and having them stay there, they are learning the importance of responsibility and proper rest.
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