Making sure children get a good night’s rest can be an essential key to a successful school year.
With a new school year on the horizon or started for many, you might be getting nervous about easing your child into a bedtime routine again. Making sure children get a good night’s rest can be an essential key to a successful school year, which is why we have included some bedtime success tips below. Below you will find some tips on how to establish a back to school bedtime routine, so your child can enjoy a school year feeling well rested and ready to take on the day.
1. Don’t wait.
It is probably is best not to try establishing a routine on the first night of school. Instead start now so that when school does begin, your child will be well into the groove of things. It really is never too early to get into a routine.
2. Start winding down 30-60 minutes prior to bedtime.
30-60 minutes prior to bedtime, start winding things down. Turn off the television, lower music, dim lights, and let children fall into a state of relaxation. By toning down some of these stimulants, you can help the child feel more relaxed and sleepy.
3. Make a bathroom stop.
Before bedtime, get kids into the habit of brushing their teeth and washing their face. Have them try using the bathroom even if they say they don’t have to. Have them take a few pieces of tissue in case they get a runny nose during the night.
4. Put on pajamas.
This may seem obvious, but a change of clothes can help children prepare for bedtime much better. Invest in some cozy pajamas that children enjoy wearing, so it gives them something to look forward to at bedtime.
5. Enjoy a story.
Now is the perfect time to enjoy a book with your child. Choose something short and simple, and read it in a hush tone to help relax your child.
6. Offer some ambiance.
A soft night light can set the room aglow and help the child feel safe. Some soft music can also help them relax. Do all you can to make their room feel safe, cozy, and the perfect place to drift off in.
7. Set expectations.
Let your child know that it is now time to sleep. If they can’t drift off right away, allow them 1-2 books to enjoy until they can.
By following this routine each evening, you can help your child get a better night’s sleep which can ultimately lead to great mornings.
How do you establish a back to school bedtime routine?
I know that this is something that is going to be challenging after being off the whole summer. I’m dreading the early morning wake ups, to be honest.
I share the same sentiment with a lot of mommies out there. It is indeed difficult to get a child back into a routine once school starts. These tips are really helpful to get the child to have a good nights rest.
These are all great ideas. I start my boys going to bed early a few days before school starts so they get used to it.
Establishing a back to school bedtime routine is very challenging, especially if your kids love to stay up late during the summer. I start doing this two weeks prior to first day of school.
I am very lucky! My girls get tired around the same time every day so we are golden. Normally in the summer they go to bed around 10 and during the school year at 9pm. They are really good at going to bed.
What some great tips, it can be hard getting back into a routine after time off, for anyone. x
We usually start a few days before school. The girls like shower, PJ’s and a book or some sort of quiet activity.
This sounds like a good routine to start off with. I’m always game for giving them some quiet reading time before bed too.
Having real pajamas always made my kids more likely to actually go to bed. I suspect it was having a routine that helped.
These are great tips. We always started the school bedtime routine 2 weeks early.
We are struggling with this right now. It’s awful. I’m going to take these tips and see if they’ll work for us. I’m having a hard time with 4 out of the 6 and the 4? Are the ones heading to school….
This is always such a challenge. I do like when it gets darker earlier just for this reason.
Routine is critical to helping your child in school and life. These are really great tips!
These are all great tips. I remember how challenging it was to get the kids back on a real bedtime schedule when school started!
These are really good tips! These tips could work on everyone!
Maintaining the bedtime routine is always going to be challenge once the kids have stepped back in to school. And these are some great tips to overcome it. It is always better to make them sure when the time is up & they have to sleep right away, so they get set as days pass by.
I read that in order to keep the bioclock optimal, go to bed at the same time regularly, if not daily. I’ve seen kids who can’t keep awake during the day since they’re up the whole night. Not getting enough rest stunts their growth as the body repairs and builds new cells and components while they’re asleep. The tips help, as does the season when it gets dark sooner than in summer.
I read every post on bedtime routines I can. I applaud all of you that master it. Both my boys are add/adhd and bedtime has always been a nightmare. Things work for a while perfectly, then it’s mayhem all over. My teenager has found a routine, although not ideal that works for him and allows him to function “normally”. I pray my 9 year old and I make it through these days without one of us being bald or in therapy.
These are great tips. I always dread this routine with them, but these tips are great and will definitely be a help to the kids and me. 😀