My Child Will Not Go to Bed When I Ask Him To

Getting your child to bed at a time that you have designated can be a difficult task that parents often dread. The bedtime struggle is nothing new and nearly all parents deal with it at some point. It does not have to be so bad. Parents can implement a few strategies that are designed to get the child into bed when you tell them to.

Instead of asking the child to go to bed, the child needs to be told it is time for bed. Before the child is told to go to bed, they should be forewarned. Giving a ten minute warning will help transition the child into the bedtime mode. Let the child know that once their show is over, it is time for bed.

Once the bedtime hour rolls around, the child should be directed to go to bed. It is not always quite that simple in the beginning, but it gets better with a little practice. If the child wants to read a story before bed, that is great. However, limit it to one or two books that do not take more than fifteen minutes to read. It is also a good idea to have the child use the bathroom and get a small drink before crawling into bed. This will help eliminate the "I'm thirsty" excuses that are common bedtime avoidance techniques.

When the child does get out of bed, calmly walk them back to their bed. In some cases, they may need to be carried. You do not need to say anything during these trips, simply place them back in their bed. Do not give in to any of their begging or bargaining methods.

Do you want to learn exactly how to eliminate your child's out-of-control and defiant behavior without using Punishments, Time-Outs, Behavioral Plans, or Rewards?