Bedtime Routine Charts

Bedtime Routine Charts

Using a bedtime routine chart is a great way to make bedtime smoother for children three and older. Routines are powerful because they allow your child to feel secure and gain independence. Keeping a bedtime routine chart will help you stick to the bedtime routine and can even make it fun for your kids. A chart takes you out of the role of managing your child’s behavior and empowers your child to manage their own behavior.

There’s no question that toddlers and school-age children thrive on routine, which not only helps the whole household stay sane but also helps these kids build healthy habits and understand expectations. Unfortunately, they are also notorious for testing limits and boundaries with mom and dad. I often describe them as “professional stallers” when it comes to bedtime.

If you search online for “Bedtime Routine Charts” you will find a ton of printable options. However, I think the best chart includes pictures of your child. This definitely can make the chart more powerful! Let your child help make the chart. Kids are A LOT more motivated to use a bedtime routine chart when they help make it. You can either put the pictures in order on a loose leaf binder ring and your child can go through all the steps while carrying it around OR you can hang the chart on a wall.

What You’ll Need to Make a Chart:

  • Poster Board or loose leaf binder ring
  • Pictures of your child implementing each step in his or her bedtime routine
  • Washable dry erase markers

Directions:

  1. Take pictures of your child implementing each step in the bedtime routine.
  2. Laminate the pictures if you would like for them to be more durable.
  3. Place the pictures on a loose leaf binder ring or in order on a poster board.
  4. Grab some washable dry erase markers.
  5. Review or teach your child each step and discuss how they will be in charge of the chart.
  6. Allow your child to check off the completed items with the markers each night.

Another option if you don’t want to laminate the pictures or don’t have a binder ring: Use double stick tape, glue, sticky tack or velcro stickers to hang the pictures on the chart and have your child take off each picture after he or she completes that step in the routine every night.

Steps to Include on the Chart

You want to include every.single.step in your child’s bedtime routine. Don’t leave anything out or you will definitely hear about it! A good routine typically includes a bath, teeth brushing, putting on pajamas, books, songs, getting into bed, and a goodnight kiss and hug from mom and/or dad. Check out my blog on bedtime routines for more details!

 

A bedtime routine chart won’t keep you from having to remind your child every now and then. But when they do get off track, it’s easy to re-focus them by just asking your child to show where they are on the chart!