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The Most Important Part of Your Child’s Day

If I’m being honest, if I had one wish at the end of everyday it would be for a button to push that would automatically have my kids clean and in bed asleep. After a long day (and many days feel long) I have little energy left to get them in bed. I just want to snap my fingers and have it be done, but that’s not the way it works and I would be missing an opportunity.

We’ve all heard the saying about getting up on the right side of the bed. The way we start our day is very important. But for a child, the way his day ends is almost more important. I realize that putting in that final 15-30 minutes of effort at bedtime will make a major difference in their lives. Here are 4 steps to a bedtime routine that will send your child into dreamland feeling secure, loved, and connected to you.

1. Make time.

If you want bedtime to be truly peaceful, you can’t rush it. That means figuring out when the kids need to be in bed to allow you the time to make bedtime soothing, not hectic.

2. Make it routine.

Come up with a little routine or special way of saying goodnight. Pull up your child’s covers and tell him you’re getting ready to send him to Dreamland. If your children are older, still leave them with a kiss or a hug and a phrase you use nightly. As you walk out of their room say, “God bless you.” Or “Sleep well my darling.” In our house we say, “Who loves you?” They answer, “Mommy and Daddy.” Then we say, “Don’t ever forget it.” They respond, “I’ll never ever forget it.” Tenderness is a soothing way to end their day.

3. Make it meaningful.

This is the time to seal the end of the day with words and routines that bring your child peace. Pray with him. Read him a calming story. Look over iMOM’s Espresso Minute Daily Email Archives and you’ll find a Pillow Talk question at the end of each one. Use the question to look into your child’s heart and mind.

4. Make it calm.

This is not the time to get riled up about your child’s messy room or the trouble he got into earlier in the day. You want to leave your child with a loving feeling, not a troubled one.

Note: Another important part of your child’s day is breakfast. If you are looking for ways for your child’s dad to be more involved with your kids then take a look at our All Pro Dad’s Day breakfast program.

What makes your nighttime routine with your child a special and peaceful time of day?

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