Is there any way of convincing a 4 year old child to go to bed in the evening?

Answer 1

remove the trousers from the 4 year old and put them back on yourself, then give your 4 year old clear guidelines, bed time and getting up time and stick rigidly to them until they get this as a routine.

Answer 2

Pauline, It starts with commiting to having your child on a schedule. I had 3 kids in 3 years. That means they were 1,2 and 3 years old and so forth. Our family was on a commited schedule. I stress the word commited because if this isn't agreed upon and felt necessary for both you and your husband then it won't work. You first analyze, rationally your lifestyle and the times that you would like to have your child to sleep for the night. I chose an early bedtime of 7 pm for my kids when they were 4 because they liked to get up early. If they were going to get up early, then going to bed late was not an option. I needed alone time for myself and for my spouse. I generally got up at 5:30-6 and we started our day. Breakfast, clean up and get dressed, play time or park, take a walk, do playdough or some other craft. Lunch time at 12:00 and then some reading. A nap at 1:00 but no later than 2:00 to wake up. Then some more play or I'd have them help me fold clothes (it can be fun if you make it like a game of color matching etc.) then they sat at the table and colored pictures for daddy, while I made dinner. Just before daddy got home, we washed faces and brushed hair to show that it's important to look your best for those you love. Then 5:30 was dinner time,,while I cleaned up spouse watched kids and played, then bathes, and by 6:30 time for a bedtime story and 7 oclock bedtime.

Answer 3

Allow her to "convince" herself by waking her earlier in the mornings and having her day chock full of physical and mentally stimulating activities. Nap time is important for developing children, but don't let her nap too long, or she'll be recharged enough to want to go the distance. When this is accomplished, she'll be more than ready for bed after a nice bath. It's best if you can do this consistently for at least a week to get her accustomed to this new routine. It's not always possible though, still,do the best you can. Good luck.

Answer 4

Try making bed time fun. Promise to read him / her a bed time story. ( A long interesting one that continues every night, so that they will want to go to bed to hear the next part of the story.) Tell him / her if they go to bed without any arguments for the whole week, you will give them some a treat at the end of the week, and let them stay up a little later over the weekend with you.

Answer 5

Try the Supernanny approach. Put them to bed. If they get up, don't enter into a discussion, just put them back and leave the room and keep doing so no matter how long it goes on for. Eventually they will get the message.

If you let a child know that if they keep asking eventually you will weaken and they will get what they want then they will manipulate you for all that they are worth. Make it clear that your rules are the ones that will be followed, no matter how hard it might seem at first.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Put her into bed. Get her into a bed time routine. I babysit, and whenever i go to different houses, I put them into bed and read a story to them. Start of by telling her to brush her teeth and so on, then gradually move her to bed. Do not give her a choice. Start her on a stars and spots chart. Everytime she does something right, like going to bed, she gets a star, and when she is naughty she gets a spot. Do more things during the day with the four year old during the day.

Answer 7

By 4 it's a little late to start altering bedtime routines, but I'll tell you what always worked for me with my three children. ! hour before bedtime, give them a bath and smooth lotion on them when they are done. Have them get in PJs and brush their teeth.Then read them a story or sing them a song for roughly 15 minutes while they're in their bed. Warn them about 5 minutes before you intend to be finished by saying "we can read for 5 more minutes but then it's bed time." When the child is a little older get chapter books and make a deal that you'll read one chapter a night. I also found putting those glow-in=the=dark stars on the ceiling helpful. when my kids were particularily wound up, they'd try to count the stars and always fell asleep quickly

Answer 8

You don't convince of 4 year old to go to bed. You PUT a 4 year old to bed. Don't start a discussion, just be firm and positive about it.

Answer 9

No, theres no convincing, theres no discussion or argument, its time to go through the going to bed routine; bath and a story is nice; and then its time for bed.
There's no point trying to discuss it with them, they're 4. They think they're missing something by staying up. So don't start loads of activities just before you try to get them to bed. Let them think you just sit there reading the paper.
Just put him to bed and if he gets up just put him back to bed.

Answer 10

I'm assuming YOU'RE the parent and SHE'S the child. Why are you convincing her of anything? You're the adult and are responsible for teaching her the right things. One thing she needs to know is that she will go to bed when you think she should.

Answer 11

Routine, quiet time just before bed, bed time stories. Being really firm taking no for an answer. You will be exhausted might take a week but try keeping the same routine. It worked with me.
good luck;