In Western parenting tradition, bedtime involves rituals made to help children feel more secure, and become accustomed toward a comparatively more rigid sleep schedule than they would otherwise establish. Such rituals may be involved to a greater or lesser extent.
Bedtime for children may become a positive ritual including:
- Bathing and Oral hygiene
- Bedtime story
- Songs, nursery rhymes or a lullaby
- Getting dressed in pajamas
- Talking about the day, and plans for tomorrow
In some families, bedtime is an important bonding period for parents and children. The routines of bedtime can be an opportunity to spend quality time with a child, discussing emotional concepts such as views of daytime experiences, expressing interests as plans for the next day, and learning, for example with a book. It plays a key part in many parenting styles.
Famous quotes containing the word bedtime:
“Parenting is not logical. If it were, we would never have to read a book, never need a family therapist, and never feel the urge to call a close friend late at night for support after a particularly trying bedtime scene. . . . We have moments of logic, but life is run by a much larger force. Life is filled with disagreement, opposition, illusion, irrational thinking, miracle, meaning, surprise, and wonder.”
—Jeanne Elium (20th century)
“Rearing three children is like growing a cactus, a gardenia, and a tubful of impatiens. Each needs varying amounts of water, sunlight and pruning. Were I to be absolutely fair, I would have to treat each child as if he or she were absolutely identical to the other siblings, and there would be no profit for anyone in that.”
—Phyllis Theroux, U.S. journalist. “On Being Fair,” Night Lights: Bedtime Stories for Parents in the Dark, Penguin (1987)