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Getting your child to go to bed can be such a difficult thing to do. Somehow, through their little 2 or 3-year-old eyes they see a torture chamber when they look through their bedroom door. One of the biggest parts of our very simple bedtime routine is to read a few books. I try to read a variety of books and allow him to pick them off the shelf. However, the last book, I usually try to have him choose a bedtime book. I feel that when we read one or two books that the focus is going to bed, it helps get him in the right mindset and start understanding that it is time.
These are some of the books that have consistently been chosen for bedtime. Whether funny or sweet, each of these books helps our kids get in the bedtime mode.
Get any of these books by clicking on the links or pictures to their Amazon Description.
God Bless You and Good Night by Hannah Hall
I listed this one first because it has been a favorite for a very long time. It is one of my very favorites. We have had it since Theron’s baby shower and it brings sweet memories because I have always read it to him. Whenever he pulls it out for bedtime, I get a little sappy. This book is a very sweet, calming book for bedtime that can help make your child feel safe and loved before bed. I especially love to read it during those times that our son has had more fears about bedtime. The illustrations are different animal babies being put to bed by their moms and dads. It is also great for right before saying goodnight prayers.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? By Jane Yolen
Another great book for bedtime, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight uses the common behaviors toddlers give at bedtime as examples of how dinosaurs do NOT say goodnight. What I love about the illustrations is that the dad and mom are actually humans making the part of the dinosaur as the child. We have always called Theron “T-Rex” since he was still in the womb, so it totally fits for him. A lot of times he points at pictures of T-Rexes and says “ ‘at me!”
The book ends with the dinosaurs giving a big kiss then go to bed nicely. The last line is “Good night, good night, Litlle Dinosaur.” Which is when we tuck in and give a good night kiss.
Good-Night Yoga by Mariam Gates
Kids love doing yoga. They love stretching and making different shapes with their body. Whether or not you like doing yoga yourself, doing yoga with your child can have many benefits. It can have a calming effect on the body and an energizing effect on the brain. It helps children learn to control and coordination with their body as well. They also just think it’s a lot of fun! This book has a calming yoga routine built in to help get little ones ready for bed. Make it a part of your nighttime routine to help ease the transition from playtime to bedtime!
I like that it can be read two ways with bold words that sound like any other picture book to say while doing the poses and it has other words that you can read to help guide breathing and stretching. Since Theron is little, the main words are enough for him.
Night Night, Dino-Snores by Nicola Edwards
This book was given to us as a gift from my sister for Theron’s 3rd birthday. It is such a cute book with beautiful dinosaur illustrations. Saying goodnight to the different types of dinosaurs in fun alliterations and rhymes, the book is great for reading aloud. The illustrations also have interesting textures on the different dinosaurs that are fun for kids to touch. If your kid loves dinosaurs like mine, he will like saying the different names and saying good-night to each of them before he goes to bed.
Sometimes he will get his toy dinosaurs to hold while we read so he can say goodnight to each of them.
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
Theron is dino-obsessed (if you couldn’t tell-3 of the 5 are dinosaur books) and he LOVES the Dinosaur vs. _____ books. They have them for bedtime, school, going potty, and going to the library. The potty book was a big favorite during potty training. Then we saw that there were more and we always get one for new experiences. Theron even took Dinosaur vs. School with him on the first day of preschool.
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime shows Dinosaur playing and having fun and NOT GETTING TIRED. He plays in the leaves, plays on the slide, but doesn’t get tired. Dinosaur wins! In the end, bedtime wins because Dinosaur gets tired and falls asleep.
Get Reading!
All of these are great, but there are MILLIONS of wonderful books to read your child! Reading to your children early improves their vocabulary and communication skills and sets them up for academic success. Children start the literacy learning process, believe it or not, at INFANCY! Make it a goal to them read every day!
What books do you love to read for bedtime? Share with us and other followers in the comments so we can enjoy them too!
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