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Bedtime Magic

Time

15 minutes

Materials

None

Directions

Young children often resist bedtime, but by designing a transition together that is regular and predictable, a great deal of conflict can be avoided. Write down the order so you can refer to it later. For example, you might decide to sing a particular song, rub the tummy, and then rock in a rocking chair. Keep the same order and approximate amount of time until the routine becomes a habit. Children can develop the necessary coping abilities to manage bedtime if you have faith in them and give them a chance to work past the emotional reactions and crying.

Extensions

If there is a fuss, tell your child that one part of the routine can be changed, but that everything else must stay the same.
Draw pictures of the routine and hang it where your child can review it and learn the sequence.

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More on: Activities for Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Children

Excerpted from:

Copyright � 2004 by Susan Kettmann. Excerpted from The 2,000 Best Games & Activities with permission of its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

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