I LOVE reading, singing and saying prayers before bed. It means so much to me.
We try to do a 15min clean up, brush teeth and change for bed then we have our really special time together.
I ask the kids what they are thankful for and what they are concerned about and then we pray about those and other things. It is really a wonderful way to hear what is going on with them. I saw a suggestion of writing down what they are thankful for in a journal every night. I may try that.
In the past we read out of the scripture picture book but we are now reading from the scriptures and it is going well. We don't read a huge amount and the kids seem to pick up on stuff better.
We then read a chapter book. I absolutely love sharing this time with them. I have so many wonderful memories of reading Black Beauty, Where the Red Fern Grows, Little Princess, Heidi and other books. I'm going to have to keep them sleeping in the same room until they move! I want to do this every night. There is a lot of research out there about the benefits of reading to your kids. It is such a sweet and wonderful part of our lives and we have all benefited from it.
If anyone is still awake they choose a quiet song to sing, we sing them and then I put on instrumental music (classical or primary). There is a lot of research on the benefits of sharing music as well.
Writing all that out it seems like it would take a long time but usually it doesn't seem long. If we get going before the real tiredness sets in that makes it better. We of course miss nights but for the most part it is our routine and I love it!
What are your favorite bedtime memories or routines? Do you have a favorite book?
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