Bedtime Prayer With Toddlers
7 Parenting Hacks for an Easier Bedtime with Kids
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Sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, my forehead pressed against my hands which clenched the wheel beneath them.
My sweet baby girl wailed in the back seat of the car. With each subsequent breath, her cries pierced deeper and deeper into my ear drum. Adding to the fun, my toddler son sat behind me kicking the seat shouting, “Mama, mama. Baby, crying!”
I was sleep deprived from toddler tantrums at bedtime, my child afraid to sleep alone, and being up several times per night with a baby. I was exhausted and it was only 9:30 am. Even more pitiful, I hadn’t even left the house yet.
Sigh.
So far I only managed to get myself and the kids in the car. As I sat there clenching the steering wheel, two thoughts pounced around my brain ping pong balls:
- I was promised there would be more sleep!
- Why isn’t there more sleep?!
Toddler bedtime struggles are real.
A recent online survey conducted by Healthdirect Australia revealed that the biggest struggle new parents face is parental sleep deprivation and helping kids sleep.
(post contains affiliate links)
Maybe it’s bedtime negotiation.
Maybe it’s a late bedtime.
Maybe it’s night waking.
Maybe your child is afraid to sleep alone.
Maybe it’s early morning waking.
No matter your sleep struggle, you are not alone. Readers from all over the world regularly write and share their struggles with me about sleep. It’s challenging to decide what sleep choices are right for your family!
Today I would to talk toddler tantrums at bedtime, late bedtimes, and practical solutions to help achieve an happy bedtime for your child.
What time should kids go to bed?
When deciding an appropriate bedtime for your child there are several things to consider:
- What is a time that will work well for your family? For example, if you eat dinner as a family at 6 pm, then 6:30 or 7 pm might not work that well for you. Perhaps, 7:30 pm or 8:00 is more realistic.
- What time does your child need to wake up in the morning? If your child needs to wake up at 5 am for daycare because you are a working parent, then an earlier bedtime might help your child get the sleep his developing body needs.
- How much sleep does your child need their age and individual needs? Stick with me, I’ll help answer this question next.
How much sleep do kids really need?
In our home, focusing on average sleep needs by age helps immensely when making decisions about sleep. For example, if we know that an average 2 year old needs 12-14 hours of sleep per day, it helps us gauge what is a reasonable bedtime for him.
If your child needs 10 hours of sleep per night and wakes up at 6 am, then a 8 pm bedtime might work for you.
If your child needs 12 hours of sleep per night and wakes up at 7 am, then a 7 pm is ly ideal.
Tips to help kids get to bed on time
1. Essential oils
Essential oils are a great way to create a calm and relaxing mood before bedtime, helping kids wind down. Perfect for toddler tantrums around bedtime. We love to diffuse lavender or peace and calming about an hour before bedtime to set the tone. Some days we place 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil on sea salt and drop into the bathwater to help our toddler relax.
2. Bedtime routine.
Studies show that a consistent bedtime routine helps cue children for sleep, as it initiates the bodies release of melatonin (nature’s sleep regulation hormone). Keep the routine simple enough to complete each night before bed.
If you are struggling to get your child to cooperate with a routine, we love using these printable bedtime routine cards. This is a super easy way to help kids feel independent and in-control during the bedtime routine.
— Print the bedtime routine cards.
—Laminate them using these easy laminating sheets.
–Arrange in the order of your choosing.
–Hang in the hallway or in your child’s room.
–Help them follow along with the routine each night.
3. Consistency.
Anytime you are making changes with sleep, there is often resistance. Resistance does not necessarily mean your parenting choice is incorrect. Change is hard. For kids. For parents. For everyone. Do your research, make a plan, then stay consistent for at least one – two weeks. Then make adjustments and follow your instincts.4. Choose a bedtime.
the printable chart above, decide what is an appropriate bedtime for your child. For our family, 7:30 pm works best for us. It gives our family enough time to have dinner together, have quality family time together, and do our bedtime routines with the kids. This doesn’t mean 7:30 pm is right for everyone.
Here are 3 things I consider when choosing a bedtime:
–What time will my kids wake up in the morning?
–How much overnight sleep do my kids need?
–What is a realistic bedtime given our family’s work and mealtime schedules?
5. Deep breathing.
There are all sorts of different ways to help kids settle down before bedtime. Deep breathing is one technique I keep in my back pocket when I need it.
Here’s how to use this technique:
–Hug your child while in a sitting position.
–Start deep breathing.
–No instructions are needed for your child.
–Simply continue deep breathing.
If you are interested in reading a bit more science behind why this technique works, I talk about it here: One Simple Trick to Help Kids Fall Asleep Fast
6. Get bed one time rule.
This is fabulous technique explored in the book Parenting With Love And Logic.
The concept is simple:
–Children must go to their rooms at “bedtime.”
–They may stay awake until they are ready for bed.
–Quiet books (or perhaps quiet toys) ONLY in bed.
–Children may come their room only ONCE to say goodnight and get a drink, go potty, ask a question, etc.
–Once they come their room, they are choosing “lights out.”
7. The hour leading up to bedtime.
The hour before bedtime sets the tone. Dim the lights in your home, turn the TV and all screen time off. This is a perfect time to connect with kids, reading books and doing other quiet time activities.
Kids who use screen time before bed are more ly to struggle with bedtime and falling asleep at a reasonable hour.
Bonus Tip: Only use a red night light
Using a white or blue nightlight is a surefire way to keep kids awake. Choosing a red, yellow, or orange light is better is because they don’t emit daytime light frequencies. Blue, green and white lights send your body “daytime” light messages, making you more ly to stay awake.
This Gummygoods Red Nightlight is adorable. Or simply replace your nightlight bulbs with these red night light bulbs.
Getting kids to stay in bed
Once you get your child to an earlier bedtime. You might be wondering how in the world to keep them in bed. It’s challenging.
There isn’t a perfect solution, but in our home we continue walking our child back to bed over and over again while using calm and reassuring phrases.
If you’ve thought it through, made a plan, know your child’s sleep needs, and know an age-appropriate bedtime, feel confident continuing to take your child back to bed.
Here are examples of simple short simple phrases we use:
It’s bedtime.
We do the same routine each night.
You will see mommy and daddy in the morning.
We love you.
For the first several nights this could take an infinite number of times and it is exhausting. Sometimes there are tears. We stay calm, speak slowly and use a low voice, reminding him that we love him, but it’s bedtime.He protests. We stay calm. We remind him. After a consistent day or two, he is back to a smooth bedtime routine and sleeping at a reasonable hour.
I released the steering wheel
As I sat there hanging on for dear life to the steering wheel of my car, a calm washed over me.
The baby continued screaming, my toddler continued kicking, but I changed my tone.
I decided getting the kids from our apartment on the eighth floor down to the car was enough work for now, and I took the kids back upstairs.
Yes.
I let my toddler watch an episode of Sesame Street. I put my baby down for a nap. And I ate a donut and drank a cup of coffee.
Parenting is exhausting.
Sleep deprivation is heinous.
Sometimes you have to forgive yourself, take a breather, and make a plan to get sleep back on track.
And so I did.
You can find the 40+ printable routine cards we use in our home here.
Want more on parenting?
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This free email series will help you:
- free sample routine for your child
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Источник: //themilitarywifeandmom.com/toddler-tantrums-at-bedtime/
How To Make the Most of Bedtime Prayer for Toddlers
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Thank you to Kayla Alonso from Baby Devotions for this incredibly helpful post with 4 practical steps toward meaningful bedtime prayer for toddlers!
Now I lay me down to sleep,I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
We all know the classic rhyme- bedtime prayer.
But what if I told you, that bedtime prayers with toddlers can be more than
just rhymes and games?
Bedtimes prayers can be an avenue of connecting with and guiding
our children, even toddlers, in their faith journey.
Here are 4 ways to engage your toddler in more significant bedtime prayers:
1. Speak life over your child
Navigating the terrible 2s can lead to some frustrating moments.
Not going to lie, there are some days it feels we spent half the day in time out. Those days are the worst! And as hard as they are for me, I know they are even harder for my baby girl.
So we end the day affirming our little one.
- We thank God for the person that he has made her to be.
- We thank God that she is strong, independent, and has big plans for her life.
It doesn’t have to be a lengthy list of affirmations. Just pick a couple of things you see the Lord has placed in your child, and pray that over them!
RELATED: Teach Your Child Her Worth Using This Bedtime Ritual
2. Pray scripture over your child
Bedtime can be a great time to help a little one memorize scripture. Incorporating a piece of Scripture into your nightly prayers will just naturally commit it to memory. Right now our little one struggles with staying in her own bed and sleeping through the night, so we have adopted
Psalm 4:8:
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 NIV
Do I think this is some sort of magic spell that will make my child sleep all night?
No.
And it hasn’t worked that. However, this is one of those verses I want tucked inside her heart, so that when she needs it, she has it.
For more ideas, check out Kayla’s 10 verses for bedtime prayers for toddlers.
3. Teach Gratitude
You can also use bedtime prayers to help teach gratitude.
You know what toddlers are really good at? Naming things they . My toddler knows how to say “cookie,” and “Grandpa,” and all the names of the Disney Princesses…and she figured out how to say all those big words, because they are things she enjoys.
So in bedtime prayers we make space for her to say thank you for those blessings. Now she leaps at the opportunity to pray. I can barely spit out the words “Dear Jesus,” before she jumps in with all the things she is thankful for.
But I won’t lie, we had to lay that foundation.
Starting when she was about a year old we started praying with her. We would say “Dear Jesus, thank you for Mamí, and Papí, and Valentina, Amen.” Short, simple prayers, but just the right size for a one year-old.
After a couple weeks I started helping her say our prayers by having her repeat the words. And soon after that she started going rogue. She now thanks Jesus for Grandma, and “The Incredibles,”and her stuffed animals (each by name), and….well you get my point.It’s not super fancy, or eloquent, but it’s toddler-sized.
And it’s showing our little one that she can engage with her Heavenly Father, and he cares about the things she cares about.
Each day, you'll receive:
1) The day's reading from the Gospel of Mark. Through the 40 days, we'll read the entire Gospel!
2) A few thought-provoking questions. You can discuss them in your family, or think about them on your own.
3) A few short devotional thoughts from me on what we just read.
At the end of the 40 days, you will…
…have read an entire book of the Bible, either alone or with your kids.
…have experienced the deep compassion of Jesus Christ.
…know why Jesus had to die.
…have a fuller understanding of some of his confusing teachings.
…have established a habit of interacting with Jesus daily.
Источник: //www.christiethomaswriter.com/kids-ideas-blog/bedtime-prayer-for-toddlers/
7 Good Bedtime Prayers for Toddlers
Teaching your children some bedtime prayers is a great way to get them to enjoy this quiet time speaking with the Lord before nighttime. Here is a look at some of the most popular and simple bedtime prayers for toddlers that rhyme.
Prayer #1
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
Prayer #2
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.”
Prayer #3
“Our Father, Who art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil
Amen”
Prayer #4
“Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray to God my soul to take. If I should live for other days,
I pray the Lord to guide my ways.
Father, unto thee I pray, Thou hast guarded me all day; Safe I am while in thy sight, Safely let me sleep tonight. Bless my friends, the whole world bless; Help me to learn helpfulness; Keep me every in thy sight;
So to all I say good night.”
Prayer #5
“How we praise and thank You for the precious little lives of all new-born babies, little toddlers and young children, knowing that each one is special to You and was known in Your heart, even before conception.
Thank You that You have scheduled every day of each little life.. and we praise and thank You for the special plans and purposes You have for every single new-born child – for all babies and infants.
We pray Your loving protection over all babies and their families and pray that many may be brought up to know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Give parents and grandparents and all those that are in any way connected with young babies the wisdom and grace to care for them in a loving and secure environment.
Guard and protect, guide and provide for each innocent little baby and protect their the hearts and minds from a society that has grown far from the God Who created them and sent His Son to die – so that they might life – this we ask in Jesus name,
Amen”
Prayer #6
“How we praise and thank You for our precious little baby and all the joy that he/she has brought us, and so Father, into Your hands we commit our precious little one and pray that You grace and love would surround him/her and that You would keep him in good health and strength and protect from him from the diseases and illnesses that can be so troubling for a young child
We pray not only for physical health and strength and a strong, healthy body but also for mental well-being and emotional stability.
But also Father we bring before You the spiritual well-being of our precious child. We pray that he would grow up learn to know and love the Lord Jesus personally and come to accept Him as Saviour.
Lord we pray that You would endow this little one with health in every area of his development and thank You for what You are going to do in his life – and we will give You all the praise and glory. This we ask in Jesus name,
Amen”
Prayer #7
“Dear God,
You made me, To jump for joy, To sing happy songs, To run fast, To climb high,
To spin and twirl.
You made me To dance with excitement, To clap with thanks, To laugh lots, To shout loud,
To be a brilliant me!”
Here is a great lullaby of bedtime prayers. This is a great collection of prayers that will help encourage your child to give thanks to Him and receive blessings before bedtime.
About the Author of this Blog Post
Crystal Ayres has served as our editor-in-chief for the last five years. She is a proud veteran, wife and mother. The goal of ConnectUs is to publish compelling content that addresses some of the biggest issues the world faces. If you would to reach out to contact Crystal, then go here to send her a message.
Источник: //connectusfund.org/7-good-bedtime-prayers-for-toddlers
7 Brainy Benefits Of Reading Bedtime Stories To Toddlers
Bedtime is very important for inculcating moral values in kids and what better way to do it with other than bedtime stories! Bedtime Stories help in creating the bond between the parents and their little ones. Reading to your child regularly lifts up his creative side from the very early age.
But, in today’s world, the kids are known to seek less attention towards reading and writing. That is so because the children are getting dominated by the televisions, laptops, mobile phones, etc. Before the gadgets attack, start with the storytelling!
When To Get Started With Bedtime Stories?
It is never too early to incorporate the reading habits among your child. Introduce your child to the world of stories right from the beginning when you are pregnant. By reading aloud, the baby recognizes her mother’s voice in the womb as well. The doctors suggest that if you start reading from the very beginning, it will help the kid in boosting his imagination and memory.
As you start to develop the habit of storytelling, the child will start to understand by himself that it is the sleeping time. Set a proper night time routine and tell your child a story before going to bed. Make the bedtimes and nap times his best times!
Importance of Bedtime Stories For Kids
Bedtime Stories or Storytelling can contribute towards the child’s overall development! Yes, you read it right! By telling stories to the little ones, you are opening the doors of creativity and imagination to your child through which he would learn emotions, moral values, and many more. Stories can help in faster learning and high command over language.
Reading to your child also helps in strengthening the special bond between the parents and the child. In this world which is full of hustle and bustle, you will get some quality time to spend together and creating special memories together.
Benefits Of Reading Bedtime Stories To Children
Read out the following benefits of Bedtime Stories that will help your children in every way:
1. Strengthens Memory and Concentration:
While telling a story, always ask questions (what, when, why) from the story. Stimulate your child by asking the past events within the story and check if he remembers it. Also, ask him to narrate the previous story in the form of summary.
2. Command Over Language:
The kids are tend to learn the sound and expression of words faster if his parents keeps on repeating the same word.
By repeating the words and phrases, the kid will develop confidence for using the new words in his daily routine. Try to introduce a new word to him in the form of a story with its meaning.
This will help your kid with better understanding of the words. You may also use pictionary for better understanding.
3. Enhance Creativity & Boost Imagination:
Introduce your child with the magical world of fairies and talking animals. This will help them in empathizing their skills. Bedtime Stories help to bring out the imagination in children, it helps with their thought processes, and it can also serve as a teaching tool for everyday life skills and scenarios that need to be learnt.
4. Expands Horizon:
Some stories helps in fostering the knowledge about the place, person, and objects. For example, the story about shapes, the story about a specific country or area, the story about a greedy dog. If your child is a toddler or a preschooler, bedtime stories can teach them primary colors, counting, shapes, and nursery rhymes in a fun, exciting, and age appropriate way.
5. Develop Moral Values And Social Ethics:
Moral stories are the best way to teach your child moral values and life lessons. It not only teaches a child moral values but also inculcate good manners, social behavior and respect for elders. Each and every story leaves a very good message which helps the child to understand in the most easiest way.
6. Strengthens Bond:
Reading to your child is the special time in which you can recreate the special bond between two of you. Enjoy the magical moment with your child where no one disturbs you.
7. Make Your Child Feel Loved:
From the tiring schedule, take out some time to adore your baby. Bedtime is the best time to tell your child that “YOU LOVE HIM”. Make your child feel important at least once in a day and what could be the best time than bedtime!
What Types Of Bedtime Stories You Should Read To Your Children?
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Blog-Section-Ad-1″]It is important to know that the children can get easily influenced by the stories you tell them. So, choose your collection of stories wisely. Help your child in understanding that there are no witches and genies. The children would sleep thinking about a witch or a bad fairy. Let them know that all of these are just stories.
Remember the following guidelines while selecting a story!
- Stories should not be thought-provoking: If the story consists of lots and lots of excitement, it will make the little ones active. It will be difficult to make him sleep in such a condition. Over excitement lays off all the creativity and imagination within the story.
2. Stories should add moral values: Reading moral stories to your child is the best way to cultivate good moral values about life such as cleanliness, friendship, honesty, respect, animal love and many more.
3. Always end the story on a happy note: Always remember to make the ending happy so that your baby goes to the dreamland with all the happiness around her. Don’t let the negativity come near her.
4. Make your baby the star of the story: Dive your baby into the magical world of fairies, heroic adventures and make him the star of the story. Make him the Prince from the story to boost his imagination power.
Have a great time and enjoy the Bedtime Stories with your child! Start this exercise from the very first day as it can help in improving the academics of your child. Make it a routine so that they inherit the same thing later in their lives. Here are some of the best Bedtime Stories that you may to read,
Image 1 Source: wombatstories.com.au
Image 2 Source: www.nytimes.com
Источник: //www.bedtimeshortstories.com/7-brainy-benefits-of-reading-bedtime-stories-to-toddlers
