Wednesday, June 19, 2013

22 Quiet Activities to do with Your Kids at Bedtime - A Few Miner Adjustments

22 Quiet Activities to do with Your Kids at Bedtime


Bedtime is one of my favorite times of day with the kids.  
And not just for the obvious reason that they will soon be asleep.
It's special one on one time that is usually pretty low-key and full of snuggles. 

Talk about your favorite part of the day.              
                                                                            
Ask what they can do to make tomorrow better. Then tell them how you can make your day better tomorrow.
Make up stories using your kids as the characters.
Read books.

Play letter/ sight word/ spelling word games.
Sing songs.
Thank God for the people and things in your life.
Tell each other how much you love them.

            “I love you as much as the sea is wide.”
            "I love you more than all the stars in the sky."
Cuddle and just listen to the quiet.
Talk about the schedule for the next day, so that there are no surprises.
Play a board game.
 
Write a letter to a grandparent.
Ask what your child’s favorite food was today and why.
Draw a picture describing the day.
Talk about different jobs and explain what they do.
Reread favorite books.
Tell jokes and giggle.
Our current favorite...
"Why did the horse cross the road?"
"He wanted to say hi to his NEIGH-bor."

Make shadow puppets.

Play flashlight tag.

Talk on walkie-talkies between the kid’s bedrooms.

Have 5 minutes of quiet play with a toy.

Whisper in their ear all the hopes and dreams you have for them.
What are some things you do with your kids at bed time?
Maybe we could make a few Miner adjustments to our list.

11 comments:

  1. I like the flashlight tag idea and shadow puppets. Thanks for sharing these. ;)

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  2. These are some great ideas. I love this post. I only wish our bedtime time was low-key. I suppose age and because they are twins and feed off of one another may be the reason for the lack of low-key.
    My boys are eight so 30 minutes prior to lights out they can grab books and sit in their own bed with their lamps on and read. Or we give them the option to draw on paper. But there is no talking or playing. It is their own quiet time.
    One will read for an hour and the other's lamp is off within minutes.
    Children too need a time to settle their little activity bodies' down in order to sleep.

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    1. I hear that. Thanks for your thoughts. Our house is not always low key either. My boys are 7 and 5, so sometimes it is sheer chaos. Many nights I just sit quietly next to their beds so that they can just listen to the fan and our breathing. But every now and again it is nice to do one of these things for a little one on one bonding.

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  3. Books on CD are great, too. Our library has a fun collection of those.

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    1. That is a good idea! My dad has recorded a couple books on cd for them and I never thought to get them out at that time. Thanks!

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  4. Replies
    1. Thank you! They work nicely when we go camping too. All that excitement needs something quiet with a little action to settle them down.

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  5. Great ideas, Trina! I need to send this list to my sister...she has 5 boys and one more on the way! As always, THANK YOU for always having such wonderful shares at the Cafe!

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    1. 5 boys! Is the 6th a boy too? Wow! That is amazing. I stopped at 2...don't have the energy for a third. And I just know it would have another boy.

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  6. Trina, I'm a little behind this week, but what a beautiful post! Lots of great ideas here!

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