Teach Good Sleep Habits

Tips For Parents Who Want to Get Their Kids on a Proper Sleep Schedule and Teach Them Good Sleep Habits.

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I really need help changing my six-year-old's horrible sleep schedule. His father and I both work full-time, so we don't get to see him during the day and we like to let him stay up at night so we can all spend time together. But now that he's starting first grade, he's going to have to get up at 6 a.m. and needs to start going to be a lot earlier than he's used to. Do you have any tips for how we can get him to go to bed early and actually fall asleep?

Sincerely,

Family of Night Owls

A:

Dear Family of Night Owls,

It's very important your child gets a full night of sleep so he can be well rested and productive now that he's starting the first grade. While it's not always easy, I will fill you in on some great tips that should have your son's sleeping schedule fixed in no time at all!

10 Tips For Teaching Your Child Good Sleep Habits:

1. Have good sleep habits yourself. The children are modeling their lives after yours.

2. Calm things down a few hours before bedtime. No wild games or scary movies three hours before desired bedtime.

3. Television off one hour before desired bedtime.

4. No sugar snacks before bedtime. Sugar is a stimulant. No caffeine, either — that includes coffee and chocolate ice cream.

5. No “heavy” talks before bedtime. Don’t do or introduce anything that will stimulate a child, including relationships, school, problem talks, etc.

6. Don’t fight with your spouse before a child’s bedtime. This riles up a child and makes it difficult to sleep.

7. Make sleep a priority over everything else including academia. Too many parents push their children to finish homework even if it means they have to stay up until midnight to do so. Make budgeting time during the day a priority so that sleep is the nighttime priority.

8. Have a child bathe and put on pajamas before bed, so that a ritual is established. No teens sleeping in clothes.

9. Make bedrooms dark and restful.

10. Make the house quiet and conducive to sleep at night.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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