Finally, you’ve climbed into bed exhausted after a long day at work and are more than ready to get a good eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. However, no sooner have you nodded off but you’re awoken by a ghostly shape hovering over your bed. Suddenly the apparition opens its mouth and says ‘mommy can I have some juice’?
No Individual Routine
While experts suggest that school-aged kids get around ten, twelve hours of sleep per night getting them there can be quite difficult. Pick a Friday or Saturday evening where it won’t matter too much if they stay up a little later. Are they starting to feel sleepy after dinner? While watching a movie? Or reading a book? Kids that tend to rise early feel tired earlier on but don’t always drop off straight away. A night owl will stay up as late a physically possible, often yawning away and dozing long before they go up to bed but the later they’re awake the longer they’ll be in bed the next morning.
Wrong Room Temperature
It’s a well-known fact that human beings struggle to fall asleep if the room is too hot and that goes doubly for children. It’s not just the balance between light and dark that’s important but also the temperature of the room they’re sleeping in. Don’t forget that they’re under a cosy winter duvet, in fleecy pyjamas and are probably cuddling a soft, furry toy, so that’s a lot of warm material right there. One of the best ways to regulate a room’s temperature for
heating and cooling is to set the house thermostat at around 19 degrees or 65 degrees fahrenheit and leave it there.
Bedtime Felt Rushed
Believe it or not, although most kids complain at having to go to bed many children love the couple of hours beforehand they spend with mom, or dad. We know that it can be hard to switch off, settle down and enjoy some quality family time when you’re worried about bills, an upcoming work presentation or if the dog’s annual check is this week or last week but kids need bedtime cuddles. If you complain, speed read through the story or hurry them into their pajamas, not only do they feel sad, but you may spread your negativity to your children causing them to feel worried and anxious.
They Feel Scared
Your kids should know that if they have a problem, no matter what time of day or night it is, that you’ll be there if they need you. Stressed, or scared children often want to talk about their worries and fears at bedtime when they sense you have more time to listen. If you put them to bed without talking these through your son, or daughter won’t sleep. Instead, they’ll lie awake in the dark and chew over everything that has gone, or could go wrong in future. Some children are also afraid of the dark so don’t leave them in pitch black, make sure they have a friendly night light and cuddly toy with them so they’ll automatically feel much safer.
