Many parents mistakenly think children automatically fall asleep once in bed, but that s not always the case. Dr. Nolan says it is too much to ask of children who are kept busy with activities well into the evening to have good sleep habits. Like adults, children need a down time to relax and to get ready for bed. Parents need to develop rituals in their children s lives so the children know what to expect. When they know what to expect, they do better.
Weekends often mean late bedtimes and sleeping late, which isn t a wise idea.
It s too much for children to be allowed to stay up late for two nights and then switch back to their regular shut-eye time on Sunday night. They ll be sleepy on Monday. Parents must lead by example, Dr. Nolan says. If the children see their parents staying up into the wee hours of the night watching television and not getting the proper amount of sleep, this makes an impression. The children are more likely to put up a struggle with bedtime.