Sleep issues
It has been a tiring day at work, and you are looking forward to enjoying a quiet evening. But Junior has other plans – to disrupt your entire evening by refusing to go to sleep! Sound familiar? “I need a drink; I need to go to the toilet; I need the light on; Read me just one more story; I want to sleep in your bed.”
Children resist going to bed for many reasons. Some are not tired, others are scared, but most simply don’t want to miss out on what’s going on. So they have a range of strategies to achieve their goal of not going to bed – refusing to go, constantly getting out of bed, yelling out for your attention, or having nightmares. How can a parent win?
Children can resist going to bed at any age, but it’s fairly common amongst 3 and 4 year olds. At this age children are developing a sense of independence, and want more control. Endless stalling may also be a way of avoiding being in the dark. Pre-schoolers have active imaginations and may fantasize that monsters are in the cupboard or under the bed. At this age, being afraid is a normal developmental
pattern. Recognition of a child’s fears, together with gentle reassurance that they are safe and secure, will bring peace to bedtime battles.
The following steps are important in helping you win bedtime battles.
Sleep issuesFile size: 0.15 MB
**NOTE: if you’ve followed these steps, or others like them, and still have had no success, contact us for further help. Bed time battles can be a call for emotional connection from your child. So if behavioural techniques do not work, contact us and we’ll help you work out a plan that meets the needs of you and your child.
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