Children are naturally full of energy and are curious about their environment. Since they’re at an age where they should be exploring and having fun with friends, many parents want their children to play and enjoy their time. Since children have a lot of energy to burn, they can sometimes be a bit harder to discipline if things get out of hand.
It’s not an uncommon sight to see a kid misbehaving. Whether it’s because they’re hungry, didn’t get what they wanted, or in a bad mood, there are many reasons why children misbehave. This is one reason why many parents will place a good amount of emphasis on teaching children good behavior and rewarding discipline. However, many children who misbehave run around and break things won’t take well to parents policing their behavior. Although this is normal for many children, this can cause problems at home and can be quite embarrassing for parents in public places.
When children are misbehaving and can’t take no for an answer, this can often lead to problems if it’s bedtime. Bedtime resistance is a common problem among the behavior of children. But what is it? How does your child go to sleep during their bedtime? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
What Is Bedtime Resistance?
When it’s bedtime, your child should at least be in a mood to start winding down for sleep. However, some children will refuse to sleep on time and sometimes make excuses that are not reasonable.
In most cases, these children want to watch television and stay up a little longer than usual. Most of the time, they have excess energy and are not in the mood to sleep or relax. Although this might be a mild annoyance for some individuals, this can cause long-term behavioral and health problems if not addressed.
Fortunately, there are many ways that this situation can be dealt with carefully and methodically. Remember: forcing children to sleep will only result in more tantrums.
Why Can’t Children Fall Asleep?
Some experts would suggest that screentime is one of the main culprits of bedtime resistance. However, other factors come into play, including:
- Fear — Some children are afraid of the dark, especially when they are sleeping alone. If this is the case, don’t force them to sleep. Instead, rationally talk to them and help them get over much of their fear of the dark.
- Screentime — Long exposure to the screens of gadgets, laptops, and televisions can have an adverse effect on children’s sleeping patterns.
- Discomfort — The child is uncomfortable with their living or sleeping environment. This is usually because they are already used to sleeping in a certain type of bed, or the atmosphere and temperature of the room are not what they are used to.
So what are some ways to help children sleep more soundly? Here’s what you can do.
Start Controlling the Room’s Atmosphere
Firstly, one of the most important ways of getting children in a mindset to sleep is making them as comfortable as possible. Most of the time, children are uncomfortable because they are too hot or too cold for their liking. If this is the case, you might want to consider investing in good ventilation or devices that can help control the humidity and the temperature of the room.
Fortunately, you won’t have to look far for devices that can help you control the atmosphere in your child’s bedroom. Some remote-controlled jet air devices can maximize your child’s comfortability and make it easier for them to fall asleep.
Make It a Routine
Secondly, making your bedtime into a routine can help them wind down and get into the mood of sleeping. Having daily activities that they can do consistently is a good way of developing a routine. This can involve bathing your child in hot water, serving them some milk, and telling them stories right before bedtime. Although, it’s important to note that this has to be done almost every single night. Studies have shown that it takes 66 days to form a habit.
Reward Positive Behavior
One of the most effective ways of getting children excited for bedtime is by rewarding and positively enforcing good behavior. Not only will this make them feel more motivated and inspired to go to bed, but this can form better habits in the long run.
Most would suggest having a reward system in place, in the same vein as a theme park. When they “score” some points, they will be able to trade it in for some gifts. Not only will they enjoy it, but this will help any trouble with bedtime.
There are different ways of winding down your child and getting them in the mood for bedtime. Although forcing them to sleep might seem like the simplest way of doing it, it can cause some problems in the long run. Getting them comfortable, rewarding good behavior, and being consistent with your policies are just ways of helping children get into the mood for bed.
