Creating a bedtime routine for our kids may be one of the best decisions my wife and I have made as parents. Although we started since they where babies it’s never too late to create a bedtime routine for your child, well maybe you might have some trouble making it work if you kiddo is 15 but you know what I mean.
Scholastic and Orajel are teaming up to encourage parents to make reading out loud to their children and brushing their teeth part of their families’ bedtime routines. I could not agree more with their mission and I know from experience including reading and brushing their teeth in my kid’s bedtime routine has had some really amazing results.
In our home the bedtime routine starts right after dinner. The kids take their bath and put on their PJs, then we read together as a family, after that they drink their milk and brush their teeth. Before going to bed we sing a couple of songs together, one in Spanish and one in English and then we hug them and bid them good night and sweet dreams. Over the years having a bedtime routine has really made things easier. Here are just some of the reasons why having a bedtime routine is great for both kids and parents.
Great Reasons For Kids To Have a Bedtime Routine
Kids always go to bed without making a fuss. Having a routine means that kids know when it’s time to go to bed. Tired kids can get cranky and they may have trouble winding down, but bedtime routines are a structured way to help kids through that process.
It makes transitions easier. Transitions can be hard for kids, heck they are even hard for me sometimes. But when a child knows exactly what to expect this makes him feel safe and secure because he knows what to expect.
It allows kids to become more independent. As they grow older my kids have been able to transition from having us tell them what to do to them automatically going through their nighttime routine on their own.
It gives us the opportunity to spend quality time together. Part of the kid’s bedtime routine includes reading together as a family. This is my favorite time in the day. As I sit with the kids and we read stories together we really connect and bond as a family and we get to share some very special moments.
It can help you instill in your kids a love for language and culture. Reading as part of our family’s bedtime routine has not only helped them increase their vocabulary and improve their spelling and grammar (in both English and Spanish). Most importantly it has instilled in my children a deep love for books and for reading. Additionally we try to read books that talk about their Latino culture and every night we read one book in English and one book in Spanish outlaid. As they get older and they start learning how to read on their own we have continued to read to them and sometime have them read to us turning reading into a really special family time.
It makes travel easier. We travel a lot and love to go out on road trips during the summer. Although the kids are tiered and fussy by the end of the day we make it a point to try to be at the hotel before their bedtime and having a bedtime routine helps them go to sleep easier even after a long and exciting day and even if they are sleeping in a strange place.
It allows for adult time. Because the kid’s have a well established bedtime routine they always go to bed early. My kids are both in bet by 8pm, even in summer, which means that I can have some adult time with my wife to watch a movie or talk about our day.
It fosters great habits. Because brushing their teeth is part of their bedtime routine and because we make if fun by singing. Something that has also helped them get excited about brushing their teeth has been to use a fun toothpaste that tastes great and that is specially made for kids. Orajel™ PAW Patrol™ products are a great way to transition you little one(s) to fluoride toothpaste to help protect against cavities to keep young teeth and gums healthy.
Be sure to check out the Scholastic Read2Me website which contains tons of resources to get parents and kids excited about reading and brushing their teeth. The site includes a free Scholastic e-book called The Three Bees, the 100 Best Read-Aloud Books.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of ORAJEL. The opinions and text are all mine.
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