What To Do When You’re Finding It Hard Getting Your Kids To Bed On Time

Sleep is a very important part of the human life. It has a whole lot of health benefits that we wouldn’t want to dive into right now. On the other hand, not getting enough of it can come with a lot of negative effects on your body and psyche.
Scientific research has proven, beyond every reasonable doubt, that kids who go to bed earlier, not only outmatch their colleagues when it comes to academics but also experience improved sports and athletic performance.

Here are some of the reasons why your kids might not want to go to bed early:

1. They recently just ate a lot of sugar

Sugar has a way of getting kids excited and all spiking them up physically. So one reason why your kid keeps running and up and down the house the when it’s time for them to be in bed might be because they just had some sugar. One way you can deal with this is to make sure you monitor what they eat, especially during the evenings.

2. Your home is still lively

If by the time the kids are supposed to be in bed, the television is on or you and your spouse are up, probably having lively conversations or playing games, the kids wouldn’t want to miss out on all that action and so they tend to look for all devious ways to stay up, even after you send them to bed.

3. You’re forcing them to

Psychology has established that there’s a certain range of age (that varies from child to child) wherein kids in that age range don’t want to be commanded to do things. So when you try to force them to go to bed at a certain time, they tend to disobey. They might not appear outrightly disobedient, but when you send them up to their room, you go back about 45 minutes later and they’re still up jumping on their bed.

It’s not enough that you just know some of the reasons why your kids may not want to go to bed early. You should also learn ways to put this problem to rest. But before you get into that, it is also important that you understand some of the health benefits that come with going to bed on time and waking up early.

Science has proven that going to bed early and waking up early can benefit you in these various ways:

1. Helps you better deal with negativity

In 2014, a study conducted proved that people who go to bed later are more likely to be drowned with repetitive negative thoughts. A lot of entrepreneurs have made mention about how they take their sleeping time seriously. Your sleeping time increases your problem-solving abilities and keeps you at a better state to handle whatever issues come at you during your day’s activities.

2. Enhances your chances of success

“When it comes to business success, morning people hold the important cards. My earlier research showed that they tend to get better grades in school, which get them into better colleges, which then lead to better job opportunities. Morning people also anticipate problems and try to minimize them”. These were the words of Christopher Randler, a biology professor at the University of Education in Heidelberg, Germany. Professor also added, “They’re proactive. Many studies have linked this trait, proactivity, with better job performance, greater career success, and higher wages. “Though evening people do have some advantages — other studies reveal they tend to be smarter and more creative than morning types, have a better sense of humor, and are more outgoing — they’re out of sync with the typical corporate schedule.”

In addition, a good night’s rest can aid make you more productive since it assists with improving your concentration, memory and solving complex problems.

3. Improves one’s ability to be persistent, cooperative, agreeable, conscientious and proactive

Listed above, Professor Randler already made it clear that larks are more active than night owls, but his research also discovered something else. It discovered that early-risers were more likely to be cooperative, agreeable, persistent, and conscientious. These are all positive traits that you will find with leaders and successful people since they make them more likable, disciplined, appreciative, and eager to learn.

4. Keeps you healthy

Every parent will tell you that taking care of kids when they’re sick is one of the greatest challenges of parenting in its entity. If you want to reduce the chances of your kids falling sick, making sure they get enough shuteye and waking up early is one sure way to ensure that. Research has discovered that getting plenty of sleep helps strengthen your immune system — which is an excellent preventive against whatever nasty bugs are going around.

5. Helps you procrastinate less

A 2008 study discovered that people who woke up early didn’t procrastinate as much as people who stayed up later. This statement shouldn’t come as a surprise since, as listed above, they’re proactive and have more quiet time in the morning to complete tasks. When you aren’t waiting until the last minute, you reduce your stress and can fall asleep worry-free. Think of the positive impact this will have on your kid’s life if they grow up with this attitude of procrastinating less.

6. Makes you look better

An interesting study from the University of Stockholm has discovered that those who appeared tired are also more likely to be perceived as unhealthy and less attractive. That might not be the end of the world, but it also counts a lot in terms of having a first impression.

As a parent, you surely will love to see your kids to enjoy all of these benefits. So you’d have to learn to put them to bed on time and wake them up on time as well. Now waking them up every morning might not be that difficult but getting them to go to bed on time; now, that’s where the problem is. Read on to learn some of the proven ways to get your kids to sleep early.

Solutions to Make Bedtime Easier:

1. Set up a good bedtime routine

You already know that bath and story time are great ways to get your child settled (something you’ve probably set up since he was a toddler). But also remember to turn off the TV and any other electronics at least an hour before bed. If your child absolutely insists that he is not tired, have him read quietly in his room (or you can read one or two short chapters to him if he’s beginning to read) or listen to soothing music.

2. Make evenings quiet and peaceful

Turn off the TV, computer, and other screens for at least an hour before bed. These activities are stimulating and can interfere with falling asleep and staying asleep. Instead, try playing some soothing music and dim the lights. Have the whole family put on pajamas when your grade-schooler does, putting the entire house into a relaxed mode as bedtime nears.

3. Have a consistent bedtime

Try to keep bedtime consistent, even on the weekends and during the summer. It can be hard to get kids to bed by 9 p.m. when the sun doesn’t begin to set till after 8:30 p.m., but it’s a good idea to prevent bedtime from sliding toward the 10 or 11 p.m. hour, only to have kids adjust to a new sleep schedule once school starts.

4. Make their bedroom comfortable

Get the TV and computer out of her room and make sure it’s not too hot, which can interfere with sleep. If she doesn’t like the dark, pick out a nightlight together. If she normally does homework at her desk in her room, try having her use another area, such as the kitchen table, as a homework workspace so that she uses her bedroom only to relax and sleep.

Conclusion

Don’t ever give in. If your child gets up for that third drink of water and fourth trip to the potty, you may be tempted in your exhaustion to let him stay up or to let him sleep in your bed. You may feel guilty about making him go to bed when he hasn’t had a lot of time with you after you’ve come home from work. But if he does not learn how to be restful and fall asleep in his room, you will only be prolonging the sleep problems he is experiencing.
The beginning will obviously be hard because you’re trying to introduce a new routine to them but with time, it will surely get easier because, at a point, they get so used to this routine that it might take a lot to break them out of it.

If you get your kids to take their sleeping time seriously, they will be eternally grateful to you because eventually they’ll grow up and remember how you helped them discipline themselves in that area.