156 HAWAII PARENT November/December 2024 are very busy. They have after-school sports, music lessons, tutoring, and of course, homework. The best trick to make sure that you’re consistent is to choose a time that works well for your family. On nights when your preschooler has dance until 7 pm, let her sleep in the next morning. When your teenage son is in bed by 10 pm and up at 6:30 am on school days, cut him some slack and let him sleep until 9 am on the weekends. What works great for your family one year might not work as well the next year, so tweak the schedule as they get older and needs and activities change. Implement these tips and you will get your children to bed with fewer complaints and endless requests for “just one more drink of water.” If your child is up later due to weekday activities, it is okay to cut them some slack and let them sleep in. don’t want to cut it, watch it on something larger than a tablet or phone - outside of the bedroom. Having a mobile device in the bedroom sets the stage for poor sleep habits as they get older. Your child’s bedtime routine doesn’t need to be elaborate. Do what works best for your family. Expect it to take a few weeks to get used to it. Then, if it’s not serving you well, change the parts that aren’t working. Be Consistent This is the hardest part. Back when I was a kid, as soon as I heard the Cheers theme song on the television, I knew it was time for bed. Except for the monthly 4-H meeting, I was always in bed by 8:15. There were never any activities on school nights. At the risk of sounding like my grandmother, life was simpler back in the 90’s. Today’s elementary school children “Having a mobile device in the bedroom sets the stage for poor sleep habits as they get older.”
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