Don’t waste bedtime

The Compass Point:

Don’t waste bedtime.

The Issue:

Most parents treat bedtime like a finish line. The goal is simple: get the kids into bed and turn the lights off as quickly as possible.

But used well, bedtime might be one of the best opportunities you have to parent.

The noise of the day is gone. The screens are off. The energy has slowed down. The room is dark and quiet. Your child is calm, tired, and willing to engage with you.

Bedtime is not just about sleep. It is about connection, instruction, and relationship.

The Reset:

There are two realities parents need to embrace.

First, bedtime should probably be earlier than you think.

Kids need lots of sleep. In fact, doctors consistently tell us that quality and consistent sleep is one of the best things parents can give their children. Sleep affects mood, learning, emotional regulation, behavior, health, and development.

But there is another important reason for earlier bedtimes: parents need margin too.

If children stay up until the very end of your energy, there is no time left for your marriage, your own rest, or simply unwinding from the day. Exhausted parents tend to rush bedtime rather than embrace it.

Second, be intentional with bedtime.

Read the Bible. Read books. Tell stories. Pray together. Process their day. Laugh. Cuddle. Help process their day and feelings. Slow down long enough to enjoy your child and shape their heart. This takes time, which is another reason bedtime should be earlier.

Don’t rush bedtime. Use it.

Try this this week:

Move bedtime back 30 minutes and create a new bedtime rhythm.

Maybe it is:
• one Bible story
• one question about their day
• one prayer
• one minute of cuddling before lights out

Pro Tip:

Our kids’ bedtime was 7:30, and the process often took close to an hour. Looking back, it was one of the parenting habits that paid the highest dividend. We laughed, cuddled, talked, sang songs, memorized scripture, and just enjoyed our kids.