Pre-schoolers
It is important to remember that different children have different personalities, reach the same developmental stages at different ages and react differently to what's happening around them.
Talk to other parents or your own parents about how they coped with the tricky times - they are sure to have some really good ideas.
Routines
Routines are important to making your child feels safe and secure. Routines allow your child to anticipate what will happen next in their day and to learn appropriate behaviours for each situation. Routines can also limit the amount of "no's" and discipline you need to give throughout the day.
You don't have to become a robot, but try to stick to a basic routine such as: breakfast first, get dressed, morning activities, lunch, afternoon activities, dinner, quiet play, bath, brush teeth, bedtime stories, then sleep.
Sleeping
- give your child a drink or snack an hour or so before bed, and have one last trip to the toilet
- sing a song, read a book, share a moment together and then say goodnight
- encourage your child to fall asleep by themselves - by giving them ideas to dream about, imagining their own adventure, or thinking about what they want to do the next day.
Night terror or nightmare?
Night terrors are different from nightmares in several ways - firstly, your child is not fully awake, and even if you try to wake them they may continue to experience the night terror for over ten or twenty minutes. Unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during the deepest levels of sleep. Even if you can wake your child up they often won't remember anything other than a sense of panic, while nightmares are easily remembered.
Relaxing bedtime routines are less likely to trigger nightmares or night terrors - try reading a relaxing story, giving your child a massage, or playing soothing music. Avoid TV watching just prior to going to bed as it acts as a stimulant and can excite the child.
Moving from cot to bed
When you begin sleeping your child in a bed, you need to be quite clear and firm about the rules and routines you have for bedtime. Try connecting the move to their new bed with an increased sense of responsibility.
Encourage your child to feel proud of their achievements. Don't make a game of it. If your child gets up, respond calmly and put them straight back to bed with as little fuss as possible and then quietly leave the room.
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