Four tips to successful sleep

Adults love sleep

It is vital to us functioning in our day to day lives. 

It helps us remain calm, cope with stress and anxiety and heal our bodies.

This is all true for our kids too. The difference is that a little person's brain isn't mature and there can be some road blocks for them about what is and isn't important.

Helping our children, not getting in our own ways. Having the belief in ourselves. That as the big person in the relationship you do know best, with lots of love and compassion, we can help our little people to know, that you have got them and know the next steps. 

“Creating space for stillness”

Being still in our bodies and our minds can be something that children need to learn how to do. It takes practice - luckily sleep is needed frequently so we get  plenty of chances to practice! 

As parents we are the ones that are guiding the ship into docking - or the little one into stillness. If there is turbulence, if there has been a meteor shower that we have just endured (a crappy work day) how do we best show up for our kids. Time is not really on our side, but that glass of water or a chance to go to the toilet, may mean that we can ground ourselves enough with a deep breath and a “you’ve got this Mumma” (or Dadda), mantra so that you can help that little person embrace the stillness and the very hard job they have of separating from you. 

The tone and the language that we use is felt by our kids, so if we infuse all of our actions with the love that we have for these little ones, it could make it easier for them to hear what we are saying. 

Reducing road blocks

Setting ourselves up for success is something that we can all do.  At the end of the day, time  seems to speed up.Having an awareness of this and aiming to seek connection, knowing that you are the ones guiding our children into the next stage. Being aware of the potential road blocks that may appear. Screen time is not only a physical block, but a mental one too. The transition away from the screen is hard for kids, and then on a chemical level, brains are wired to seek more input, to find the noise and the rewards. Thinking about when your screen time is in the day may help you make bedtime smoother. Aiming to stop screens at least an hour before bed is beneficial for everyone. 

Finding time to talk

When kids get home from school, they may not be ready to talk, sometimes they will save this up for a captured audience at bedtime.  Allowing time for talk in the afternoon or evening can decrease the talk pressure at bedtime. Making time to engage with your child, this could be,  whilst peeling the vegetables, or emptying the dishwasher, putting the rubbish out, driving in the car, or sitting and having a cup of tea. Our children feel seen and  valued when we really listen to them, they know they are important. This increases your connection to them. When they feel connected to you we are increasing their ability to know what is needed from them in the bedtime routine, decreasing resistance. 

Have a plan

Whilst change and the introduction of new routines can be stressful and induce anxiety - in both parents and kids, being aware of it. Acknowledging it, and having a plan so that the whole family is aware, will give you a fantastic chance to notice and communicate when things aren't going well. To know that some buffering time may be needed as we adapt to changes. 

Knowing what is a priority for us in our families and that we can alleviate some of the stress with some simple things can help us get through tricky times. Believe in yourself, know that the love you have for your children is the why. You have got this, but when all else fails, get outside amongst nature, take that breath, get some sunlight on you and your children!

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