A picture paints a thousand words, especially when communicating with young children.
That’s why when providing sleep support to families with toddlers and preschoolers we often recommend creating a simple, straightforward “bedtime routine book.”
Consider your own day to day activities. Do you have calendars, checklists, post-it notes and other reminders to help you remember what you need to do? Think of a bedtime routine book as a kid-friendly version of all that. A simple booklet acts as a visual tool to communicate expectations and help young children understand the routines. It also helps keep parents from constantly repeating themselves.
Children feel more secure and less anxious when they know what comes next.
Having a visual schedule reminds them and clearly shows what the tasks and steps are to prepare and wind down for bedtime. And the visual images give children time to process and plan for the upcoming transition.
As in all aspects of parenting, consistency and follow-through are key ingredients for success. Without them, you can’t expect your child to learn or change their behavior. Having their own bedtime routines booklet helps both parents and children practice consistent, appropriate activities for preparing for sleep.
Another benefit of a visual tool like this is that the book helps remind children if they forget.
And, when the going gets tough, the schedule can take the heat instead of the parent. You might say, “I know you don’t want to put on your pajamas, but the schedule says it’s time.”
There are many ways to go about creating a booklet for (and with) your child. It can be hand-drawn and taped together or much more elaborate. Because young children respond especially well to pictures of real faces, using pictures of themselves or other children works great. Companies like Shutterfly or Mixbook make it easy and inexpensive to print a booklet, too. You can also use pictures cut out from magazines or printed off the internet and paste them into a spiral notebook.
A bedtime routines book shows what the child should be doing and in what order.
Be sure to break down the steps so they’re easy to follow and understand in order to bring a peaceful flow and ease to bedtime. With clear instructions and expectations, children become more confident, cooperative and empowered.
