| When it's time for kids to go to sleep, it's | | | | are likely to have trouble falling asleep at |
| amazing how creative they can become in | | | | night. Even if kids are exhausted in the |
| trying to find ways to stay awake and out of | | | | morning from not getting enough sleep the |
| their room. Now that the beginning of the | | | | night before, they can still be wound up by |
| school year is right around the corner, it's | | | | bedtime if they haven't gotten any exercise |
| always a challenge to push back the bedtime | | | | that day. |
| that has steadily crept up later and later | | | | |
| during summer break. It may be difficult at | | | | It's not the best idea to do lots of exercise |
| first to get kids back on schedule, but with | | | | right before bed because it will have the |
| some creative strategies and a firm resolve, | | | | opposite effect. However, aerobic exercise |
| kids will be going to bed without hassle by | | | | like swimming or racket ball 4-5 hours before |
| the time school begins. | | | | bed can have them ready to hit the pillow by |
| | | | the time bedtime arrives. Consider getting |
| Try a white noise machine: | | | | your kids involved in a local gym or youth |
| | | | center that has access to fun aerobic |
| This is a truly amazing invention! Most kids | | | | activities. Not only will they be more alert |
| want to stay awake at night because they | | | | during school hours from more restful sleep, |
| don't want to miss out on what is going on in | | | | they'll be getting fit at the same time. |
| the house. Even when they're in their rooms | | | | |
| trying to relax, they can still hear the | | | | A nightly warm lavender bath: |
| television and conversations in other parts | | | | |
| of the house. A white noise machine | | | | Hot baths don't just seem relaxing; they |
| eliminates this problem by actually absorbing | | | | really do have a physiological effect on the |
| or masking household sounds. | | | | body. The warm water slows the heart rate |
| | | | and relaxes the muscles, which is why you |
| Though the sound emitted by a white noise | | | | feel so relaxed and sleepy in a warm bath. |
| machine is similar to a fan, it's actually | | | | Adding natural lavender scent to a bath |
| made up of every sound audible to the human | | | | increases that feeling of relaxation, calms |
| ear. Thus, one individual sound or voice is | | | | nervous tension, and promotes sound sleep. |
| "absorbed" by the white noise machine sound | | | | |
| just as one voice in crowd is | | | | The number one way to eliminate the bedtime |
| indistinguishable. In addition to absorbing | | | | battle is to establish a ritual and stick |
| the sound, the fan-like noise generated by | | | | with it no matter what. Even though they may |
| the white noise machine is very comforting | | | | object at first, having a ritual is |
| and relaxing. | | | | comforting to both kids and adults. So |
| | | | whether you choose to use a white noise |
| Lots and lots of exercise: | | | | machine, to establish an exercise habit, to |
| | | | draw a warm fragrant bath, or all of the |
| As every parent understands all too well, | | | | above, make a commitment to stick to your |
| kids have an abundance of energy. If they | | | | plan and you'll be surprised at how quickly |
| don't expend that energy during the day, they | | | | things can turn around! |