How great it must feel like to have some time for yourself after a busy day of work, chores, and taking care of the kids. For some parents, watching some TV or reading a good book after a long day may sound like a thing of the past (like before being parents kind of past).
But, with structure like a good night time routine, your nights can be something you can actually look forward to.
Mom of 8 Shares Night Routine of Kids
Chloe Dunstan, 27, from Perth, Australia, recently shared a glimpse into her life with eight kids to get ready for bedtime, Sun UK reported.
Yet, there is such a calm disposition on her face and a look of contentment on her children's evident in the video she shared on YouTube.
Her kids know exactly what is expected of them every hour, so there is little resistance, if any.
Dunstan has twins, triplets, babies, boys, and girls. Yet, she gets to keep her sanity by having her kids on a routine that starts as early as 4:30 pm.
While she makes dinner, the kids tidy the playroom. She makes a healthy dinner of pasta with vegetables, textured vegetable protein, and cheese. They even have an impromptu dance party after the clean-up.
Dunstan shares that she does not sit down to dinnertime with her children. She is often busy at this time bottle-feed her babies while the bigger kids have their dinner.
With two infants to feed, feeding time usually lasts well after the big kids finish dinner and take a bath one by one. Then, she brushes their hair, and the kids brush their teeth.
Now that the kids are fed and clean, she asks them if they feel ready for bed, to which they answer a resounding yes. So, she takes their favorite book at the moment, "The Gingerbread Man," and starts telling a bedtime story. Her eldest raises his thoughts that in some books, the Gingerbread Man escaped rather than being eaten.
The three older boys love to read on their own while snuggled in their bed, too. The girls get tucked in as well as the babies.
Then the couple gets to spend time together. They sometimes have their dinner late around this time and watch some TV.
Why Having a Routine is Important for Children
Routines are good because it provides comfort and consistency, a sense of normality in the child's life, High-Speed Training revealed.
Even when there are changes that happen (such as moving or having a new baby), routine offers a feeling of security and reduces stress.
Children know what is expected of them, so they learn how to manage their time. It also helps teach good habits and allows children to work on their routines independently.
When routines are in place for bigger children, it can help moms with very young kids or babies. Routines also reduce power struggles and tantrums just before bedtime.
Further, it is a good thing for children to sleep at a consistent hour each night. This ensures they develop well because they get the right amount of sleep every night.
Also, when children sleep at more consistent hours and have acceptable sleep hygiene practices, they can better go back to sleep or self-soothe when they wake up in the middle of the night, Science Daily reported.
The same goes for older kids and teenagers whose parents set guidelines for them when to start getting ready for bed and when to be sure they are already tucked in.
It is also important to choose activities that will get kids ready for bed rather than stimulate them. So no video games and exciting movies before bedtime.
ALSO READ : How to Start a Nap Routine for Your Toddler
