How do you get kids to go to bed and stop playing at bedtime?

Question

How do you get kids to go to bed and stop playing at bedtime?

Answer 1

try to have them take a shower or drink warm milk if this doesn't work let them sleep as late as they can one day and the next day wake them up really early and do not let them sleep during the day and if they don't like it tell them that the more late they go to sleep the earlier they have to wake up next morning.  

Answer 2

im 12 this is how i do it. i get my PJs on and read a ook till i get tired and fall asleep you could read to them

Answer 3

well im a kid. 11 to be exact. u cant trick us you just gotta make us. or for kids that are just impossible tell them ull ground them or something. or tell them ull buy them something or give them a candy.

Answer 4

Well about a half hour before their bedtime you should tell them to go and put their pajamas on, brush their teeth, and get in their bed. You should read them a story and maybe give them some warm milk. You should also make a rule if they play in the room after bedtime then you will take away privileges or allowance.  

Answer 5

Not knowing the age of your kids.....  You must be firm and yet loving and fun at the same time.  Set the rule....8PM or whatever then an hour ahead of time get them ready.  "Bed time is in an hour so you have a half hour to play, untill it's time to put on pajamas"  , then "there are only 15min. left to play" After that, times up, no exceptions no comprimising.  (set a timer if you need help remebering how longs it's been)  Spend the last half hour or so brushing teeth, washing faces, getting a drink and potty time...then it's off to bed.  (Everyone must have their own bed.)  You have to be consistant and always get up and follow through.  If you just yell or leave them to police themselves, they will not respond.  Make it happen for theirs and your sakes.  

Answer 6

Depends on how old they are and what the situation is.  My kids who are 5, 4, and 2 all share a room now.  They don't play at bedtime because we don't allow it.  This is what we do for bedtime.

After dinner, we do baths and then they all get into their pajamas and brush their teeth.  Then they have about 20-30 minutes of more playtime while I put the baby down to bed.  After that, I come into their room and help them clean it up.  Then they get to choose one book each, and we sit and read the books together (I make the others listen to the books their brothers chose).  After books, we have prayers.  Then they all get into bed.  I sing them their songs (my husband made up a song for each of our kids when they were newborns and we sing them every night).  After their songs, I tuck them in and give kisses.  Then I sit in their room for about 15 minutes until they have stopped talking to me and each other and are quiet.  Then I slip out.  

I think the most important thing is to have a bedtime routine that helps them wind down from the day (baths, books, songs).  If you want to play with them before bed, do that before you start the winding down routine (like in the 20-30 minutes after pajamas but before books in my house).  Be cheerful, but stern about the routine.

This works for me.  DH and I take turns a lot, but often he is not home at night because he works the evening/night shift at the restaurant.

Answer 7

Well we have been very blessed with 3 great sleepers and so bedtime is so easy for us. We just try to do calm activities in the evening before bed. They also have a snack before bedtime and read stories. They each have their own rooms which makes it easier too.