back into swing of things
Weening wee little ones from the rush Dear Dorie, For the past few weeks, I’ve been really flexible with our nighttime routine. Now that the holidays are over, do you have any tips for getting the kids back in the swing of things? — Ready for Reality Dear Ready, Yes! Pat yourself on the back for having the flexibility to enjoy the season and slowly, really slowly, limit the stimulation and sugar of the holiday routine.
Start simple, with a “no plans” evening and a long, drawn out bedtime ritual. Even if you spend an hour and a half getting your children to bed a little bit closer to their normal bedtime, consider it a success. Continue this for a few days.
Next, if they’ve been sleeping late, try waking up the house earlier. We’re not talking alarm clocks here, just open shades and some music to help them shake off the snoozes.
Finally, serve their favorite healthy meals over and over again as they detox the sweets. This will help them sleep better and, as with most everything, sleep is the answer. Children are remarkably adaptable, and they usually prefer a calm routine. They should respond positively. Good luck. — Dorie (Dorie Meek is director of the Infant & Family Support Program, provided by Saint John’s Health Center in partnership with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Meek answers questions concerning children ages birth to 5 years old. Submit your questions to “Dear Dorie” at, or call (310) 452-6132; fax (310) 452-6392).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 3, 2006. Read the original PDF.