(NC)-Studies show families spend an average of 45 minutes less per day with each other than they did 20 years earlier, illustrating the importance establishing day-to-day quality time together.
Bedtime is an ideal opportunity to set up this daily routine, as it gives parents the chance to create quality moments with their children that can be educational and engaging.
"A good night's sleep is important for the physical and emotional health of every child," says Kathy Buckworth, parenting expert, award winning parenting author and mother of four. "Establishing a regular bedtime routine that is both calming and relaxing sets a foundation that allows children to get the sleep their bodies need and also provides parents with stress-free family time."
To help parents create regular family time with their children, Kathy has discovered some helpful products available and offers the following tips to develop a bedtime routine:
• Bedtime bubbles - Starting the routine with a warm bath and a change of clothes will let children know its time for bed. Make it an interactive experience by letting your child choose a quiet night-time activity.
• Happy endings - Set the mood with bedtime stories. Make story time exciting by inviting Dora the Explorer along for an adventure with Select A Story. Dora reads exciting stories aloud, asking questions along the way. The child interacts with Dora to determine how the tale unfolds.
• Magical moments - Give children something to look forward to with the Magic Storytime Theatre and Movie Motion. Bring your child's favourite stories to life with these fun and interactive toys that project brilliant images onto the bedroom wall. Or project the images on the ceiling to watch while lying in bed.
• Soothing songs - Children enjoy the calming sound of soft melodies while falling asleep. LullaLight toys project fun characters onto the ceiling and play soft melodies that will help children calm down after a busy day. They have an auto shut off feature and run on batteries making them portable and ideal for sleepovers or trips away.
• Lights out - Children feel more comfortable with a low-light in their room and a cuddly companion to hold. Starlite Pals make perfect bedtime buddies. This stuffed toy's tummy has a special star light dome built in that projects 'twinkling stars' on walls and ceiling. The child simply hugs the toy to turn it on and off, acting as a soothing night light and soft snuggle toy.
Information on these toys can be found at Toys R Us, Wal-Mart or Zellers.
- News Canada