Sleep is evidence of our humanity. We know God does not sleep. Psalm 121 tells us that. However, when Jesus lived as a man on earth we know he spent time sleeping. He even slept on boats during storms when everyone else was scared. As humans we need sleep. Our little ones need sleep and they need more of it than we do. However, you may find yourself fighting the battle of getting your child to bed pretty consistently.
This month we want to help you create a home where rest and sleep is held in high regard. So how do you start developing a culture within your home that values sleep?
- Establish a bedtime routine. One example is use the bathroom, put on pajamas, brush teeth, read the Bible with mom/dad, read quietly for 10 minutes then lights off. This routine stays consistent.
- Keep distractions out of the bedroom. No TVs, handheld devices on or in the bed. If toys left on the floor are a distraction, make cleaning them up part of the bedtime routine.
- Declare the bed a place for just sleeping. No homework, DS playing done while laying on the bed.
- Limit food and drinks containing caffeine and sugar before bed.
- Keep a consistent bedtime. It’s OK for this to fluctuate by 10-15 minutes, but if the bed time is 8:00, define that well. Does that mean 8:00 lights out, or 8:00 in bed? There’s a big difference between the two.
We know we are at our personal best when we’ve had enough sleep, but so are our children. Let’s fight hard to make sleep a priority for our families by starting a new rhythm at bedtime, one that takes the battle out of bedtime!
Partnering with you,
Paula Smith
Travis Jenkins