Create a Pre-Bedtime Routine With Your Kids That You’ll All Look Forward to

April 23, 2025•

Pics: 2 pics that focus on children/families at night appearing happy. They can be:

Eating dinner at the dinner table
Sitting together and talking with pjs on
Kids with pjs on looking in mirror smiling or sitting criss cross smiling (looking like they are saying an affirmation or just peaceful and taking some quiet time before bed)

Seo keywords: parenting hacks; advice for parents, happy parenting

Create a Pre-Bedtime Routine With Your Kids That You’ll All Look Forward to

A Positive End to the Day With Your Kids

Happy Parenting Can Start at Night

Hey my friends, picture this: It’s nighttime. The sky is darkening outside. And as you move about your home, it feels like this magical retreat where the stress of the day just melts away. Those hectic evening rushes? Totally gone. Instead, your family is laughing and unwinding together, getting ready for bedtime (which will also be totally chill).

So, how do you make this happen? You just need the right system.

Trust me, it’s not about doing more—it’s about doing things differently. Ending your day in a positive way isn’t just a dream—it’s totally doable and, honestly, it’s a game-changer for your family’s vibe.

For years, my own evenings have been something my kids and I absolutely love and look forward to. Even when they were as young as three, we’d settle down each night and share what we’re thankful for—like our cozy beds or the fun we had that day. It’s always been a special family time that everyone looks forward to.

Want to transform your evenings too?

In this blog, I’m going to walk you through some simple ideas to bring a bit of that magic into your own home. From starting dinner time with a moment of gratitude to winding down with some heartfelt affirmations, you can make every night a little celebration of the day.

Ready for Peaceful Evenings?

So many parenting books, blogs, podcasts, and websites have a wealth of information about bedtime. This might be something you know to be true if you have a young child or baby in your family.

But, it’s important to also have habits and routines in place *before *the pajamas get on and the lights turn off.

I know what you might be thinking — nighttime can get chaotic and trying to add even more on your plate feels like it’s too much. Whether it’s getting lunches packed for the next day, cooking dinner, putting things away after practices, school, and work — it’s easy to feel out of flow and overwhelmed with all the things.

Here’s the thing — I am not suggesting that you add much more to your nighttime routine, only that you uplevel some of the things you’re already doing. You’re eating dinner anyways, right? So let’s add in some ways to raise the vibration of your home. Or that you focus a few more minutes each night to add in a bit more self-care and appreciation for the life you and your family are living.

Anchor the Evening with Gratitude

My parenting advice here? Find some time for gratitude. Studies show that practicing gratitude can:

Lower our stress
Boost our happiness
Help us feel more relaxed

Making it an amazing addition to any nighttime routine.

Remember I said we can layer on these habits with what’s already going on in our home? A great time to focus on gratitude with your family while you’re eating dinner.

Here are some ways to focus on gratitude at dinner time:

Talk with your family about how meals can drop you in a place of gratitude. Share who you want to send your thoughts of gratitude to — this can be anyone from the farmers that grew the fruits and vegetables you’re enjoying to the family members who helped make the dinner.
Focus some of your dinner time conversations on positive parts of the day. Grateful for sunny weather? Meeting a friend for coffee? Getting to ride your bike? Talk about it!

Create a Calming Pre-Sleep Routine

A lot of focus for making a bedtime routine is centered on babies (think bathtime, books, cuddles) and then it gets talked about way less as we all get older. But establishing a calming routine before bed is important for all members of the family, no matter the age.

If you’re looking for some simple ways to bring the vibration in your home to a relaxed, calm place try these tips:

Limit electronics — Aim for no screens 2 hours before bedtime.
Focus on self-love — Share aloud 3 things you love about yourself with your family or take time to do it privately.
Affirmations — Focus on affirmations that put you in a restful place “I am relaxed.” “I am calm.” “I am peaceful.”
Practice some relaxation techniques — Five minutes of deep breathing exercises can be incredibly helpful. There are so many to try with kids, like smell the flower, blow out the candle and square breathing.

Advice for Parents? Nighttime Routines Matter

Recap the importance of a peaceful nighttime routine for both child and parent well-being.
Encourage parents to experiment with these strategies and observe the positive changes in their family's nightly routine.
Include a call-to-action inviting readers to share their experiences or sign up for more tips from the Happy Life System.

And there you have it—simple, effective parenting hacks to transform your evenings from hectic to harmonious.

These moments of calm before lights out contribute significantly to the overall vibe of your home, making every night an opportunity to connect and relax with your family.

Remember, you can always take these tips and find ways to fit your family’s unique style. Play around with these strategies and you might just be surprised at the positive changes in your family's nightly routine. Whether it’s feeling more relaxed before bed or waking up with a refreshed sense of gratitude, the benefits of these nighttime habits can be so, so profound.

If you’re looking for more parenting advice or helpful ways to incorporate positive habits into your home, I’m here for you! Keep coming back to the blog and find me on Instagram! Sending you love.