The Real Reason Kids Fight Parents So Hard at Bedtime

• Make kids aware of the timeline. Alerting kids that bedtime is approaching sets the stage for winding down.
• Practice positivity. One technique Dr. Huerta recommends will definitely be happening in my house moving forward. It’s called “high fives.” “In high five، you put your hand up with all five fingers out as if you are going to wave. Then، you have your child pull each finger down as you tell them something fun you would love to do with them until you get to five. Or، you can tell them five things you love about them، or five things that are fun about their room، etc.” he explains. “This helps kids think about positive thoughts and can help create positive feelings before going to bed.”
• Use their imagination to your advantage. Another fun tactic involves having kids set up their stuffed animals as ‘watchers’ at night. “The stuffed animals can be placed throughout the room to keep an eye on the closet، the windows، the door، and under their bed،” Dr. Huerta says. “Have them pick where the stuffed animals go to give them a sense of control before they go to bed.” 

A rewards system for successfully navigating bedtime، and practicing deep، relaxing breathing together are other techniques parents have employed to turn their little Gremlins back into Mogwai.

Finally، as a parent of older kids too I can offer bedtime-weary parents this perspective: Kids won’t want you to tuck them in forever. In fact، I’m lucky if my teenagers remember to say “goodnight” to me. Ironically I find myself longing for the days when they didn’t want me to leave their rooms and “just stay a few more minutes.”