Set the good habit for children from setting up bedtime routine

My husband likes to play with children after dinner, I disagree, because he holds them all up and delay to go to bed after 10pm. My housework also delayed because of that. What should I do? I can’t fight with them alone. But I really want my children to set a good habit for sleep.



My mother taught me and my siblings for ages that our bodies have a natural body rhythm and gets used to a certain routine. If we wake up at the same time every day, our body learns when to wake up and will not need an alarm. Also our bodies will be in a state of alert because it “knows” it is wake up time. That is why, if you sleep in, you feel groggy even though you had extra sleep because your body is not aware it is “awake” time. Physiologically our bodies will get tired at the same time every night and become prepared for sleep.



When I was a teen, I was always alert and couldn’t fall asleep if there was sports event, outdoor activity such as school picnic on the following day. Because I was used to get up at the same time every morning without alarm, but suddenly change the schedule to get up earlier for the particular event.

I wasn’t that lucky to have bedtime stories, simply because my mum is not that type of mums like sharing news or giving a hug before we sleep, she is too tired to look after a big family and give fair attention to each of the family member. Because of that, I like to tell stories and hug babies, something I wanted to have but missed.



But overall my mum has done a good job overall. We had regular and consistent wake up time, bed time, meal time and study time, that something I want to carry on for my own family. Consistency will ensure tranquillity in your home because it will be easier for children to fall asleep and it will also ensure children get enough sleep every night.