The fact is well established that children thrive when their lives are run on a schedule. This may evoke images of rigid British nannies and be a foreign concept to modern parents, but research backs this up. A regular routine cuts stress way down for children and promotes domestic tranquility in the home. Bedtime rituals for children are a treasured part of childhood for many people and sometimes are the closest families get to a daily routine.
A ritual is often thought of as religious, but this is not necessarily true. The main thing about a ritual is that it involves repetitive actions, is practiced on a regular basis, and has particular importance attached to it by practitioners. Therefore, any established series of actions can be ritualistic. This concept fits very well into the scheduled life that fosters emotional and physical health in kids.
An early bedtime is important for young people. Researchers say that sleep deprivation is a serious health threat, and studies show that many children fail to get sufficient sleep. It's also nice for parents to have some time in the evening which is not dominated by the needs of the youngest members of the family. Quality of family life is important in maintaining health and happiness.
There should be a time before bed that helps children relax. This is preparation for sleep, so rough housing or noisy activity should be discouraged. Researchers say that the blue light of television and computer screens sends a 'wake up' signal to our brain, so all electronic devices should be turned off at least one hour before bed. Soft yellow light promotes relaxation, and dark rooms make for better sleep.
So - getting the kids away from the television and making computer games off-limits in the evening is a good thing. If a special time is set for this end-of-day restriction, other things can be substituted. One way to do this is to send the kids off to get in their pajamas - with as much help as is necessary - and brush their teeth. A warm bath is known to enhance restful night, so this could be included, too.
Storybook authors and publishers have cashed in on the almost universal love of reading stories to kids tucked up in bed. This is a time-honored bonding time for families and one of the standard components of a happy childhood. Little ones often fall asleep when a favorite story is being read, and older kids should be relaxed at the end of this quiet time.
Other usual activities that people include in the evening routine are saying prayers, reading scripture, singing lullabies or other songs, listening to music, or reading quietly to oneself. Anything that helps kids relax is good, so roughhousing and noise should be discouraged. For older kids, read a chapter of a long, enthralling story each night. Finally, mom and dad can tuck kids in and kiss them goodnight.
The main problem with scheduled activities is that they require self-discipline on the part of the adults, who seem to be harder and harder to engage. However, studies show that having this sort of regular routine is much more beneficial than most people realize.
A ritual is often thought of as religious, but this is not necessarily true. The main thing about a ritual is that it involves repetitive actions, is practiced on a regular basis, and has particular importance attached to it by practitioners. Therefore, any established series of actions can be ritualistic. This concept fits very well into the scheduled life that fosters emotional and physical health in kids.
An early bedtime is important for young people. Researchers say that sleep deprivation is a serious health threat, and studies show that many children fail to get sufficient sleep. It's also nice for parents to have some time in the evening which is not dominated by the needs of the youngest members of the family. Quality of family life is important in maintaining health and happiness.
There should be a time before bed that helps children relax. This is preparation for sleep, so rough housing or noisy activity should be discouraged. Researchers say that the blue light of television and computer screens sends a 'wake up' signal to our brain, so all electronic devices should be turned off at least one hour before bed. Soft yellow light promotes relaxation, and dark rooms make for better sleep.
So - getting the kids away from the television and making computer games off-limits in the evening is a good thing. If a special time is set for this end-of-day restriction, other things can be substituted. One way to do this is to send the kids off to get in their pajamas - with as much help as is necessary - and brush their teeth. A warm bath is known to enhance restful night, so this could be included, too.
Storybook authors and publishers have cashed in on the almost universal love of reading stories to kids tucked up in bed. This is a time-honored bonding time for families and one of the standard components of a happy childhood. Little ones often fall asleep when a favorite story is being read, and older kids should be relaxed at the end of this quiet time.
Other usual activities that people include in the evening routine are saying prayers, reading scripture, singing lullabies or other songs, listening to music, or reading quietly to oneself. Anything that helps kids relax is good, so roughhousing and noise should be discouraged. For older kids, read a chapter of a long, enthralling story each night. Finally, mom and dad can tuck kids in and kiss them goodnight.
The main problem with scheduled activities is that they require self-discipline on the part of the adults, who seem to be harder and harder to engage. However, studies show that having this sort of regular routine is much more beneficial than most people realize.
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