The best way to get children to go to bed is to establish a bedtime routine. The average preschool child should be in bed by 7 – 8 PM. The routine you establish as a parent helps your child look forward to going to sleep. Typically parents have their children eat an early dinner (by 5 PM), take a bath and then do some quiet activity such as playing a game or reading a book. At bedtime, most of the lights in the house should be dimmed and all noise making devices turned low. Take your child to bed, tuck them in and tell them good night. If you have not been doing a routine, it may be hard for the first few weeks to get your child to settle down. But, with enough practice and repetition, your child will adjust to an appropriate bedtime and wake up ready to face the world.

Scientists tell us that we should avoid television or electronic devices such as televisions, cell phones or tablets. There should be no electronic devices stored in the bedroom. Electronic gadgets disturb our sleep in 3 ways. First, the light from gadgets suppresses Melatonin. Melatonin is the chemical in our brain that signals it is time to sleep. Second, the information on gadgets keeps the brain alert. The brain is tricked into thinking that it needs to stay alert. Third, the gadgets wake you up. The dinging to alert emails and messages as well as the lights from the device alerts you to wake up. It is estimated that 1 hour of sleep is lost each night when a device is kept in the bedroom.

According to Parents Magazine:

1. Sleep promotes growth.
2. Sleep helps the heart.
3. Sleep affects weight.
4. Sleep helps beat germs.
5. Sleep reduces injury risk.
6. Sleep increases attention span.
7. Sleep boosts learning.

https://www.parents.com/health/healthy-happy-kids/the-7-reasons-your-kid-needs-sleep/

http://www.sleepforkids.org/html/tips.html

1. Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet.
2. Exercise during the day.
3. Avoid big meals before sleep.
4. Have a bedtime routine.
5. Don’t drink sodas and drinks with caffeine.
6. Go to bed at the same time every night.

Some children experience problems with sleep.  Problems might include bad dreams, sleep talking, sleep walking, snoring or noisy breathing, difficulty falling asleep, or insomnia.  This website will explain sleep difficulties to you and give information to share with your child’s pediatrician. 

http://www.sleepforkids.org/html/problems.html