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A to Z Challenge, Activities, Bedtime, Blogging, Busy Dad, Challenges, Child, children, Dad, Dad Advice, Family, father, fatherhood, Frozen, Kids, Learning, Lego, life, Parent, Parenting, Youth
Today’s letter is B and so I’ll talk about Bedtime Rituals for my kids.
The bedtime ritual at my house is pretty straight forward and boring at some times. But seeing the smiles on my children’s faces is well worth the time and energy to do it. The only time we don’t follow the ritual is if we are traveling or staying the night other than our home.
So here is our normal bedtime ritual. Each night starts with a bedtime snack. This can be as simple as peanut butter and crackers to even ice cream sometimes. As long as they think it is special you can give them any type of food you want.
Then my kids will pick out certain books (One book per kid) they would want me to read to them. I’ll start with the boys books first and finish reading to the girls. The books don’t have to be long novels type, but short simple ones like “Why Are You So Grumpy About” by Tom Lichtenheld. Longer ones I tend to break down into chapters per night. Even sometimes my kids would want me to read a story out of their kids bibles. The fact you are reading to them is the main thing they remember.
Then I will tuck the younger ones in and let them read for a little bit longer by themselves or have them listen to a CD like Frozen. Which my girls almost know every song by word and sound now. The boys favorite right now is “Everything is Awesome” from the “Lego’s Movie”.
Then I’ll check back later to remove books and shut off the radios and lights in their rooms.
Since I told you what the bedtime ritual is like at my home, what are the ones you do in your home? Are you a parent that has a ritual you follow or one that fly by the seat of your pants? I would like to here other bedtime rituals from other parents. Just leave a brief comment explaining it or even a link if you have written about it on your own blog.
Right before I leave my daughter, who’s in 1st grade, we have to do our special kiss/goodnight thing.
It started with just doing the air kiss and touching cheeks, but little by little stuff gets added on. Secret handshake-like stuff. Clapping a certain pattern (like pattycake, but not those actions). Rubbing noses. An arm twisty thing is the latest that I’m still trying to figure out. And last a regular hug.
We’ve gotten the pattern down, but if she keeps adding to it, I’ll be tucking her in for an hour each night. 🙂
Aha! You have discovered your daughter’s devious plan! She’s building up that good-night ritual to the point where she’ll be staying up all night, watching you contort yourself for her amusement! Muahahahahaaaa!
They are already taking turns doing that now. I believe I’ll have my hands full in a few years from now.