Getting Kids to Go to Sleep

Go to sleep!

By the time a child is supposed to be in bed, most of us have lost a lot of our patience. Whether you're put your own child to bed at home, or have someone else's child in your house, or your bunk, or your girl scout sleepout, handling a child who can't sleep can be frustrating!

"But I can't sleep!"

Separate from starting that sentence with one of those 4 words I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, this is a totally reasonable thing for a child to say. It probably isn't true, but they do believe it when they say it. Show some empathy.

"But you CAN stay in bed."

We can guide kids' behavior, not their feelings. We can't make them sleep, but we can explain what they can - and must - control.