Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this giveaway,American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), via L.C. Williams & Associates! I received a gift card, in return for my post. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post/review. Nor was I told what to say, and all opinions are my own.
According to a recent study, in which 10,000 children were tested, kids are more likely to have behavior problems if they go to bed late or don’t have regular bedtimes. The study also found that when children went to bed earlier, their behavior improved.
All you parents just shook your head and went "Oh Duh!", didn't you?
But with the holiday season upon us, that simple fact can be pretty hard to stick too! With holiday shows on TV, holiday gatherings and activities, and holiday vacations, getting younger kids to sleep at an early bedtime may seem like you're fighting against a brick wall (with lungs of an elephant!).
To help parents this busy holiday season to kids get excited about going to bed/sleep, the AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) has released two FREE, interactive mobile apps that teach children about the value of sleep!
Best yet, they are available for iPad, Kindle Fire or any Android device! Woot!
The apps – I See the Animals Sleeping and The Animals Sleep – use interactive storytelling and activities to show animals’ sleep patterns, environment and adaptations – illustrating how sleep is important for all animals, and people too. Based on two educational children’s picture books, the apps will help kids understand the need for a soothing sleep environment and the importance of developing healthy sleep habits that will last a lifetime.
Both apps have optional settings for children to read the stories at their own pace, or have the stories read to them with audio. The apps also include a coloring book, puzzle and quiz games to make learning fun. How much fun? I couldn't get my tablet back, type of fun! As you can see, Miss Grace was totally entranced with the apps from page one! She loved being able to touch the screen and hear the animals 'speak'. The pictures are amazing- they have been beautifully replicated in the app! I loved that there was a quiz after the book, that tested your child's comprehension with 10 questions! Miss Grace raced through it and loved the matching game (also with animal noises) and greatly enjoyed the coloring pages, as you can see. She opted to make the drawings 'abstract' in nature, and of course we had to save them! She LOVES these apps, and they have been great in getting her to calm down from some very busy evenings with pep squad starting, and she has been able to go to sleep very easily after them. I love that they allow her to practice her reading (and reading comprehension), so they are educational too (which is a requirement for any app she uses)!You can download the free apps off of the AASM app page, for the version you need. The I See the Animals Sleeping and The Animals Sleep books are also available in hardcover versions.
To help parents this holiday season AASM has a $30 Amazon gift card to give to one lucky BTHM reader, to help find the perfect item, to assist in getting your little one to sleep- be it a new stuffed toy, soft blanket, or adorable nightlight!
Ready to enter?
Reading to them is the best for me.
ReplyDeleteLimit anything sugary after dinner and then just stick to our regular bedtime routine as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteUsing soothing music and books works beautifully. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteBed time stories and music help.
ReplyDeleteA regular bedtime schedule and routine: bath, books, rocking, etc. is helpful in getting kids to sleep.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Usually some calming music
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win!
Shower pjs reading sleepytime tea when my oldest can't sleep, rocking etc.
ReplyDeleteI also swaddle my baby
ReplyDeleteSay prayers and read a little
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids but keeping a regular routine and bedtime stories I think would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteFollowing a routine always worked for me. Even when my son was keyed up, which was often,as long as I stuck to the same routine, he managed to fall asleep. If you give in, it starts a cycle of problems.
ReplyDeleteBicycle riding
ReplyDeleteTired them out after school!
ReplyDeleteWe stick the same routine every night that way my kids know what to expect. If they delay things it doesn't change our routine and they still have to be in bed at the same time.
ReplyDeletedemureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
My son sleeps with me and this seems to work he usually doesn't complain too much about going to sleep.
ReplyDeleteReading a book works best here. dwelchert at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteA warm bath, a book and snuggling a bit before bedtime works the best for my kids.
ReplyDeleteI know when my kids were babies; I swore by the S's: Swaddle, Swing, Suck, and Shhh.
ReplyDeletea bath and reading a book helps
ReplyDeleteI have no kids of my own, but my niece and nephew always have a bath before bed and my niece likes to be read too before sleeping
ReplyDeleteLay him down and tell him not to move, it usually works
ReplyDeleteReading before bedtime can help you get sleepy.
ReplyDeleteWe brush teeth, read Goodnight Moon, sing a few rounds of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and say good night.
ReplyDeleteI get them to sleep by doing something relaxing like reading a story. Thanks for the giveaway! DamianMom at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteWe have a sound sleep machine and I think this helps us sleep better.
ReplyDeleteWe read everynight together
ReplyDeleteJessica Cox
Take them to legoland
ReplyDeleteSay your prayers.
ReplyDeleteExpose them to new things and they get tired!
ReplyDeleteA nice, warm bath, and then stories at bedtime help them wind down.
ReplyDeleteRun them all day, sleep them all night!
ReplyDeleteI have them do a routine, brush teeth, read them bedtime story!
ReplyDeleteAnother tip is to not have them actively playing before sleeping, maybe reading a book, watch tv, but slow them down.
ReplyDeleteTire them out with physical activities
ReplyDeleteScratching her back always works for some strange reason.
ReplyDeletea nice warm bath and comfortable pajamas works every time.
ReplyDeleteI read them bed time stories.
ReplyDeleterounder9834 @yahoo.com
I read to them and get them a glass of water
ReplyDeleteExpose them to new things. Their heads get fried!
ReplyDeleteNothing works here, i'm always looking for advice and ideas!
ReplyDeleteA white noise machine, like Cloud B's Sleep Sheep always helped my little guy fall asleep.
ReplyDeleteHave them read a book!
ReplyDeleteA story read slowly in a not-so-exciting voice can really calm a child before bed. ;)
ReplyDeleteHave them read you a book!
ReplyDeleteYou can give them warm milk.
ReplyDeleteHave them play sports after school!
ReplyDeleteReading books and singing lullabyes
ReplyDeleteI make them take a shower and lay them down to sleep.
ReplyDeleteProbably not the best thing but a old movie they have seen many times always does the trick.
ReplyDeleteTake them on a ;long hike!
ReplyDeleteWell I don't have kidlets, but when I have little ones over, they get a nice bath with lavender that helps get them sleepy.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Tucker
read kids a bed time story to get them to sleep.
ReplyDeleterounder9834 @yahoo.com
We do a "night night list" with my son - we make a list of steps on the dry erase board, and he can pick which toys he'd like to take to bed with him (his favorites are his plush Phineas & Ferb dolls). He crosses off each item as he does it, and when the list is done, the last item is "night night time" and he does it with no complaints!
ReplyDeleteMelatonin is also helpful to help a lot of kids calm down for bedtime (it didn't work for mine, but my pediatrician was the one who recommended it and a lot of my friends swear by it!)
ReplyDeleteWarm milk and we read a few books.
ReplyDelete