There’s no doubt about it, Christmas Eve is one of the most exciting times of the year for your little ones. Yet, it also brings a bit of dread when it comes to bedtime. There’s a little part in all of us that gets excited on Christmas Eve, but it’s important to remember that Santa Claus only visits children who are fast asleep. Getting your child to sleep on Christmas Eve is important, as you don’t want to be exhausted on Christmas Day. How do you overcome the anticipation and settle your children into a blissful sleep on the most exciting evening of the year?
Get active
It may be tempting to curl up in front of the TV, especially when the grass glistens with frost, but going outside and getting active will help tire your kids out in time for bed. A simple bike ride, a trip to the playground, or even just a walk in the park will help to expel their energy and excitement.
Stick to the routine
As tempting as it may be to let them stay up a little later, sticking to the normal bedtime routine will help. Following the normal schedule will ensure they know when bedtime is coming and will keep any arguments at bay.
Track Santa Claus
Technology is a wonderful thing. These days, your children don’t have to look out at the night sky and wonder where St. Nick is; they can now track him. There are a few tracking sites available – Google Maps offers one here. It also allows you to see the Santa village in the month of December. The North American Aerospace Defence Command has it’s own Santa tracking page, which launches on 1st December here. You can use these websites to help track Santa Claus with your children. This is a great incentive for bedtime, because, of course, Santa can’t visit until you are fast asleep!
Read them a bedtime story
Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘The Night Before Christmas’ makes for perfect bedtime reading. Inspire their imagination with this festive tale. This could also become a Christmas Eve bedtime tradition. When your children know their bedtime routine, they are less likely to try to push the boundaries. This is the perfect story to help your children fall asleep on Christmas Eve.
