Early Childhood

If your children are going to school for the first time, and aren’t accustomed to being away from home for extended periods, it’s important that you start preparing them for the long days ahead by helping them get enough sleep.

Being sleep deprived will only make your child's transition to school more difficult. So if you don’t have a regular sleep schedule established for your kindergartner-to-be, it’s time to get serious about putting one in place. Listed below are a few tips to help you get your child’s back-to-school bedtime routine started.

• Don’t let your children engage in high energy activities prior to bedtime.
• Shorten your child's daily nap.
• If you want to establish a bedtime of 8:00 p.m., you should have your child in bed by 7:00 p.m., as it may take a while for him to fall asleep.
• Children sleep better when they are clean and relaxed, so letting them take a warm bath prior to bedtime should help them nod off.
• Choose one of your child’s favorite stories, and read it to him.
• Make sure the temperature in your child’s bedroom is comfortable.
• If your tyke has a hard time sleeping, it’s okay to give him one soft comfort toy, but don’t let him sweet talk you into filling his bed with a bunch of playthings.

It’s important to be consistent with your child, as it may take a couple of weeks for him to become accustomed to a structured bedtime routine.

If you’re curious about the effects that not getting enough sleep may have on your child, read “Sleep Deprivation in Children.”