Effective bedtime routines typically have three elements in common:
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Ample time for children to settle their bodies from the energy of the day
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Opportunities for children to connect with the grown-ups they love
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Cues for the body to increase melatonin production, smoothing the transition to sleep
That last one can be accomplished by dimming the lights about an hour before bedtime (and avoiding screens, too, if you can).
As for the first two, reading together fits the bill.
At Oolie, we love reading together as a family. Our kids love the rhythm of the words, hearing their caregivers’ voices, and engaging their imaginations while listening to the story. We love the snuggles, the calming quiet time together, and the stories ranging from profound to absurd in our favorite books.
We care so deeply about reading with kids that we’ve created a philanthropic initiative to promote the work of authors and illustrators, while contributing to the causes that they care about. Learn more about the Drawn to Kindness initiative.
Here on the blog, we’ll feature a book that we love every month — sharing why it’s special, and what we love about it.
The first book that we want to tell you about is Chirri & Chirra by Japanese author and illustrator, Kaya Doi.
Chirri and Chirra are small children with big imaginations. They explore the world around them with wonder and curiosity — and a splash of magical realism. This is the first book in the series, each of which feature Chirri and Chirra having an adventure, a snack, and a nap. (Jealous?) The gorgeous, dreamy illustrations capture the characters’ wonder and whimsy, as well as the beauty of the natural world.
Purchase Chirri & Chirra on bookshop.org to support independent booksellers, and check out Kaya Doi’s other work on Instagram.
May your bedtimes be calm and connected!
—Ama Liebke
Top photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash
