I’m far from a sleep expert — those dark rings under my eyes are the first giveaway — but I’ve picked up a few sure-fire techniques over my nine years of motherhood that at least start my sleepyheads off in the right direction.
Snuggling Up for Children's Bedtime Stories
Since my children were infants, I’ve cherished evening as a special time for sharing stories. Our favorite bedtime books are:
- Time for Bed by Mem Fox, illustrated by Jane Dyer
Gorgeous watercolor pictures of mama animals with their adorable babies make this book a treat for all ages. - Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
A classic carryover from my own childhood. Toddlers on up will delight in finding the tiny mouse as he hides around the darkening room. - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz
The perfect way to end a not-so-perfect day.
Daily Affirmations as a Transition to Bed
Wanting my babies to grow up confident, I’ve always capped each day by reminding them of the qualities that make them wonderful. For example, I tell my daughter: “You are beautiful and talented and funny and smart and blessed and creative and loved.” My son has his own list, but both affirmations end with “loved” — a comforting word that hangs in the air long after lights-out.
Counting Sheep
From time to time, my kids pop out of their rooms five minutes after I’ve tucked them in to complain, “I can’t sleep.” I instruct them to lie on their backs with their eyes closed and picture everything they did that day, starting with rolling out of bed. Think about what you had for breakfast. Was it good? Then what? Did you play with friends? Was it a school day? Rehashing the day is exhausting. When I do it myself, I’m asleep by lunch.
Rebecca Kavanagh is contributing editor of START, EduGuide's early childhood publication written for families with children ages 0-5.