Sensory experiences to help kids relax at bedtime
Q and I have been revisiting some of his favorite before bed games to add some fun and connection to our nighttime routine. We haven’t been to the library lately and I’m feeling bored of most of our books! Luckily he’s starting to read some of them on his own, but it’s also inspired us to bring some other activities into the routine.
Here are a few of his faves:
- Poppy blanket: wave a (light) blanket over them to make waves of air.
- Bake a cake on my back: they turn over, and you mime cracking an egg, letting it drip onto their back, sprinkle your fingers like flour and sugar, smooth it all out, Tap along the spine gently for the timer and “ding” on top of their head. They flop over and you hand them the invisible cake to gobble up.
- The five little piggies: wiggle their toes one by one, saying where each piggie is going (to the grocery, the bus stop, the laundry, the park… whatever is part of your life), and on the last toe tickle up the leg to the tummy “all the way home”.
- You’re my pillow: your child lays down on your pillow, behind you. You sit in front, facing away, yawning and stretching and saying “sure is nice to be ready to sleep”. As you lean back they say something silly or tickle your hair and you sit up a little saying “that was so weird I think my pillow just talked / tickled me. Oh well I guess I’ll just go to sleep.” Lean back again and do it until you’re bored and then switch places.
Would love to hear if you have other bedtime games!
