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What a father can do to soothe the Bedtime Blues
- Talk to your children: Sometimes your children really need to check in with you and unburden themselves about their day at school. It is important that you make time for this.
- Make up a bedtime routine: Draw up a written “contract” together that you can embellish on the computer or decorate with crayons and stickers. The contract should outline and agree on exactly what the bedtime routine includes and in what order — bath, brushing teeth, two books, and a glass of water, say, followed by a few minutes of listening to quiet music.
- Motivate your child: After a week of good bedtime behavior, make sure to treat your child to something extra special — such as a new book or an afternoon outing with his or her best friend.
- Limit TV viewing: Children who watch TV in the evenings have more trouble getting to bed and sleeping well through the night according to recent studies. So limit your kid’s time with the boob tube, especially as bedtime draws near.
- Solve the problem: Pay attention to the things your kids worry about during the day to get an idea of what might be bugging them when the sun goes down. Ask about their specific objections to bedtime — is it because they’re not tired? Scared? It’s too quiet? Offer them a flashlight if they’re afraid of the dark. Help them plan or sort out certain dilemmas.
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