Tips to help your children beat the bedtime blues!

CHICOPEE, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - Getting kids to bed seems to be one of the most challenging tasks for many parents. Dr. Elaine Ducharme is a clinical psychologist from Glastonbury, Connecticut shared some tips for beating the bedtime blues.

Establish Bedtime Routines

Do's

• Be consistent and firm
• Let kids decide the order of some things
• Lay down on their bed with them for a few minutes
• Let kids read a few extra minutes and turn off their own light at a certain time
• Help them learn relaxation techniques
• Return them to their own bed if they get up during the night
• Use rewards to help a child learn the new routine

Don'ts

• Go to sleep in their bed
• Let them sleep in your bed
• Go in their room every few minutes just because they are crying or calling you.
• Give up

Getting your child to sleep in his or her own bed requires persistence, determination and approximately two weeks.