(Newswire.net — June 26, 2022) –It’s no surprise that children find it difficult to wind down after a busy day at school. Whether they’ve been learning, playing, or being active, kids need some time to relax and unwind to get ready for sleep. Here are seven tips for helping your child do just that.
1. Find a Relaxing Activity
When it comes to relaxing activities, you’ll have to find out what works best for your child. The one thing most experts agree on is that whatever relaxation activity you choose should involve the five senses. That means touching, hearing, seeing, smelling, and tasting something.
2. Chat With Your Child
Sometimes talking about their day can help children relax. Ask questions about their day at school and talk about any new topics they learned or new things they tried. If there was a difficult situation during the day, it’s okay to ask your child how they felt about the problem so you can discuss possible solutions together. Remember, talking about problems can be very helpful as long as you positively approach them and try to come up with ways to solve the problem.
3. Read A Book
Reading is a great way to help your child relax after a busy day. The more you read together, the less likely your child will have trouble falling asleep at night. Try reading religious books or stories based on your family’s beliefs, books handed down from generation to generation, or books that reflect your family’s cultural background. Reading also teaches children positive habits such as sitting quietly and paying attention over a long period.
4. Use a Bath Bomb
In some cultures, children take a bath each evening before bed. A warm bath is a great way to help your child relax and unwind from a busy day. If your child enjoys bath time, try using a bath bomb in the tub. A bath bomb is a small, fuzzy ball you drop into the water, filling the bathroom with scents and colors. Some types of bath bombs produce bubbles in the tub too.
5. Make Your Own Play Dough
You can do this together as a family project or let each child make their batch of play dough for relaxing at night. The best part of making play dough is adding food coloring and shapes. That way, you get to make your calming colors and patterns perfect for unwinding after a busy day.
6. Watch a Movie
If your child loves movies and TV shows, try watching something with your child after dinner or in the evening. Compare notes about what happened during the day or discuss any new things they learned or tried. When kids express an interest in a movie or program, ask if they want their favorite part to be included. That way, you can help them learn new words.
7. Take a Walk
If your child seems too wound up to relax and unwind after a busy day, consider taking them for a walk. A short trip around the block is all that’s needed to let off some steam and try out some new words. You can even use the time to talk about your day or ask how their day went at school and talk about any problems they might have encountered during the day. The one important rule here is that you should never try to force your child to take a walk if they don’t want to go, though. Some children may not be in the mood to walk on a particular day, and that’s okay. They need to talk about it with you before you decide whether or not to take a walk together.
It may be difficult for your child to unwind after a busy day, but they need to relax before bedtime and try their best to go to sleep. Hug your child and tell them what a good job they did today. Then follow up the hug with the tips you’ve learned here.