Explore calming activities that can make bedtime with your kids feel easier, while also promoting connection and helping them unwind after a busy day. These enjoyable and soothing bedtime ideas aim to gently relax your children, setting the stage for a peaceful night’s sleep without any resistance.
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Imagine cozy pajamas with tiny toes peeking out, reading adventure-filled books, and cuddling under warm blankets. That sounds pretty ideal, doesn’t it? Yet, why does bedtime sometimes feel more like a struggle than a fairy tale?
I’ve figured it out: by the end of the night, I’m exhausted. By 7:30 PM, my eyelids droop from a full day of activities—zipping up snow pants, tidying up several times, and giving piggyback rides to my kids. Then it’s time for that all-important final transition—bedtime.
I often feel like the Little Engine That Could whispering “I think I can, I think I can,” yet without failing to lose patience without a little bit of shouting and nagging. After investing so much energy into making each day great for my family, it feels wasteful to end it on a negative note. The moments right before bed linger with kids, even affecting the next day. I know bedtime is also a chance to bond quietly, but sometimes, my children just won’t listen.
Reflecting on why bedtime tends to be a challenge, it dawned on me that I’m not the only one tired. “Kids, it’s bedtime!” I say, often met with silence. They’ve spent the day listening, learning, and playing, so more instructions at night are hard for them too. They likely feel just as reluctant to come away from their fun as I do to step away from my book or the couch.
I understand this, but I also realize how important sleep is for improving a child’s behavior and mood. So how can I make bedtime something they look forward to, while respecting their need for downtime? More importantly, how can I end the night with a positive and loving family connection, rather than frustration?
Building a close relationship is a powerful motivator for children to cooperate, and bedtime might bring up anxiety as they prepare for a long separation from their parents. If a busy day meant less connection time, this anxiety can be heightened.
Play is a major stress reliever for kids, allowing them to express themselves and fostering fun, creativity, and laughter—key ingredients for calming down. I realized I needed to move away from issuing commands and instead focus on strategies that involve fun, creativity, and connection.
Here’s a list of bedtime routines and activities designed to make this transition smoother and less stressful. They’re perfect for tired, creatively-drained parents, aiming to ease children into a restful night:
1. Choose each other’s pajamas, then put them on together.
2. Hold a family tooth-brushing party with music and dancing.
3. Share five things you love about your child.
4. Invent a bedtime story featuring a family member as the main character.
5. Do a wheelbarrow walk to bed—holding your child’s ankles while they walk on their hands.
6. Play ‘Simon Says’ during the bedtime routine.
7. Enforce a ‘No talking, just singing’ rule.
8. Read a bedtime story using a funny voice.
9. Create knock-knock jokes together.
10. Use only gestures and hand signals to communicate.
11. Wear the silliest pajamas you can find.
12. Try to keep a super serious face throughout bedtime—no laughing allowed.
13. Take on a quick bedtime challenge with the Bedtime Adventure Challenge Book!
14. Walk everywhere backward.
15. Fit everyone’s stuffed animals in bed as a fun challenge.
(For the sake of brevity, I’ve shortened the list here. The full list comprises various imaginative and bonding options, from shadow puppet shows to brewing calming tea together.)
Ending the day with positive interactions tailored to meet kids’ emotional and developmental needs for connection will ease bedtime struggles and foster a warm relationship. Whispering goodnight to a content and peaceful child just in time to catch your favorite show might just be the perfect bedtime solution.
This post includes a printable list of calming strategies to make your evenings smoother.
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Welcome! I’m Angela Pruess, a Licensed Children’s Mental Health Professional, and Positive Parenting coach. Each day, my spirited kids teach me more about fostering emotional health for lifelong happiness. Learn more about me and the Parents with Confidence mission.
