Bedtime for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners, Sleepovers for Kids

Everyone has bad dreams. You're probably used to your preschool or kindergarten aged child coming to you in the middle of the night. Those words, "I had a bad dream…" tug at a parent's heart. In many cases kids have bad dreams that are figurative interpretations of what they experience during their waking hours. Here are a few things you can do to help your child avoid bad dreams and nightmares.

Co-sleeping, the practice of kids sleeping in the same room or the same bed as their parents, is well received in some cultures, but remains somewhat controversial in the United States. By the time your child has reached preschool or kindergarten, you've probably established firm boundaries for bedtime, but, if you haven't, we have some suggestions for you. Most research has discovered that parents co-sleep with their children because of nighttime demands those children make. Even kids that are kindergarten-age, preschool-age, and older are sleeping with parents because of nightmares, bedtime tantrums, or some other issue. Parents just find it easier to give in. The problem is that, especially as kids get older, co-sleeping doesn't teach kids how to sleep without you.

Believe it or not, most kids are actually trained to awaken during the night. Kids learn early that they can get a few minutes, or hours, of awake time by playing on mom's and dad's soft spot for them. But, you can train your child to sleep through the night, and avoid frequent awakening by making sure that you escort her right back to bed when she wakes up. This way, a small sleep problem doesn't become a big one.

Wakie, wakie, eggs and bakie! Parents use a ton of creative ways to get kids out of bed in the morning. From the smell of a yummy breakfast to goofy and fun morning routines, parents and kids continue to wage the age old getting-out-of-bed battle in homes across the world. Here are some tips to make mornings easier for you and your child.

When you ask how many hours of sleep a preschooler or kindergartener get, you're likely to get different answers from different people. Although, every child is different, and some children do just as well on eight hours of sleep while other children need ten or more, there are some basic guidelines to follow regarding sleep. Just like adults, a lack of sleep causes problems in children. Children who don't get enough sleep may be cranky, uncooperative, and hyper. Every child is different, use these parenting tips to determine how much sleep is right for your child.

Very few parents have escaped the frustration of a child that insists he is not tired and just won't go to sleep. Many times these kids are so tired they can barely stay awake, yet they continue to fight bedtime. We've assembled a few parenting tips for you to draw on when the inevitable "I'm not tired…" moment occurs with your preschooler or kindergartener.

Around the world, many cultures engage in co-sleeping with their children, and millions of parents in America engage in co-sleeping, as well. Whether or not this is a practice you want to take part in is a decision that your family will have to make. There are advocates on both sides of the issue, which makes co-sleeping a very controversial topic.

Some kids view moving out of the crib to a toddler or twin bed a fun adventure. Others act like it's a punishment and greet the whole process with anxiety and fear. Before you introduce the idea of moving to the big bed, think about these parenting tips that may make the move a lot easier for you and your child.

Night terrors are not uncommon in children; nearly 15% of young children between the ages of two and six experience them at one time or another. Night terrors are more than just bad dreams or nightmares. They actually occur during sleep can cause toddlers to experience extreme signs of panic like sweating and increased heart rate.

When bedtime comes around, many households go into a dizzying display of children demanding they aren't tired. Screaming and racing about, children try to postpone bedtime. When the fits are over and the children are in bed, there comes the trick of getting the children to sleep.

Parenting is hard work! With as many day-to-day obligations as parents have – work, family, etc. – it's a wonder we get any sleep at all. A small child that just refuses to sleep through the night can be so exhausting for both parent(s) and child that we find it easier to simply tuck the little one in with us so that everyone can get some sleep. The problem is that bringing your child into your bed for an extended period of time can make it hard for her to sleep on her own through the night. Eventually everyone will toss and turn because of the discomfort of a crowded bedroom. This can lead to serious problems as children of preschool and kindergarten age struggle to get enough sleep to make it through an active day of play and learning.

For many families, bedtime is filled with kicking and screaming. Kids will try just about anything to avoid going to sleep. Even if they are barely able to keep their eyes open, many kids still fight bedtime. Routines are a great way to help your child get to sleep and have fun and special bonding time together.

While you may think you're the only one stressing over your child's first sleepover, you're not. Children are apt to feel nervous and/or excited about their first sleepover, too.

If putting your child to bed every night seems to be a struggle, you may have come to dread bedtime just as much as your child does. As it can be complete with fussing, kicking and screaming, bad bedtime behavior has probably become somewhat of a ritual in your home. To make bedtime what it once was, relaxing and peaceful, put into practice the SuperNanny bedtime secrets.

One of the most common complaints from parents is that their kids just won't go to sleep when they're supposed to. Interestingly, the problem usually resides not in the child, but in the sleep routine. If your child is having trouble falling asleep, try these parenting tips.

There's no doubt that sleep is important, but when you understand that sleep can affect your child's health, learning abilities, and behavior, and that consistent lack of sleep can result in permanent developmental and growth issues, you're more likely to take sleep seriously. Sometimes we're tempted to slack off on bedtime rules a bit.

It might give you a jolt when it happens, but many parents end up laughing about stories of their toddler or child falling out of bed. Kids tend to be sound, but active, sleepers and often end up on the floor – some kids more than others. Although frequent falling out of bed may signal a sleep disorder, for the most part, it's a benign occurrence that your child will outgrow.