I'm fully aware that convincing children to go to sleep is hard enough on a typical weeknight during the school year, let alone in the summer or in such an odd time like the current global pandemic. However, I keep fighting the good fight 365 days per year. That's right: My kids still have a set bedtime even when they're not in school.
Why My Kids Have A Set Bedtime All Year Long
First and foremost, we worked hard to establish a consistent bedtime routine. We follow our routine every night of the week and on weekends. Our routine is also interconnected with the other events of our evening like homework completion and dinnertime and it's pretty well ingrained into all of our circadian rhythms at this point.
If I suddenly let my children stay up later, it may confuse them or lead to disruptions in other parts of our daily life. Delayed bedtimes could cause my kids to become hungry again in the middle of the night or before bedtime because they burned off extra energy before they climbed into bed. What's more, it would cause problems with their sleep patterns and wake up time, which isn't something I really feel like dealing with.
Affer all, if I don't give my kids a bedtime, then they definitely won't get in the adequate sleep they need. Studies show that sleep disruptions for kids can cause changes in mood and focus, problems with learning, loss of appetite, overeating, and more. I definitely don't want those things for my kids, and I'd much rather battle their whining before bedtime than an entire day of tantrums.
I want my children to remain healthy, and I want them to feel well-rested so we can all enjoy the day. They're already predisposed to enough physical and mental health conditions, so why play with fire?
Finally, let's be real: One of my favorite parts of the day is that small window between the kids' bedtime and the time I finally fall asleep. That nice hour of time is the perfect opportunity to watch an episode of Grey's Anatomy, read a few chapters in a book, or get caught up on some of my work. It's also the perfect time to enjoy a sweet treat or small adult beverage without my children asking why they can't have some too.
How I Maintain Our Bedtime Routine
Yes, the sun sets later and our schedules look very different than they did back in February, yet we still maintain our nightly routines almost to a T. How?
Our entire routine is a series of events that happen in the same pattern every single night. This makes it easy to maintain our routine regardless of the school schedule because our kids simply know the sequence of events in the evening. In fact, they even ask if it's close to bedtime if we do something to "throw off" the routine because they are so used to the order of events.
We also use additional measures to help set the room up for bedtime. We establish a set number of stories to read and a cutoff time for the lights. Blackout curtains, dim lights, and comfortable blankets also help facilitate restful sleep.
Although it may sound crazy to you, my family's bedtime routine is an important part of our day, so it stays around even during the summer or other breaks from school. I highly recommend that you keep a consistent bedtime too, even when your kids aren't in school. It's important for everyone, and it keeps the entire family healthy and mentally stable.