Episode 107: How To Reach Your Child’s Heart Through Bedtime Routines—with Valerie Ellis
As parents, we do all that we can to love and care for our kids. Our days are often filled with driving them to and from school, packing lunchboxes, helping with homework, doing laundry, and keeping up with everything they need to flourish.
But in spite of all the time we spend doing things with and for our kids, have you found that it can still be a struggle to connect with them in a meaningful way?
We’ve certainly felt this way at times—but we have good news to share. There’s a golden opportunity to reach the hearts of your children in an intentional way, and it’s already a part of your daily routine!
Valerie Ellis is joining us to explain how parents can use bedtime to disciple their kids and nurture their faith in Jesus. Valerie is an author, speaker, and founder of Our Everyday Parables—an online resource that features book reviews and helpful ideas for families pursuing faith and compassion together.
In this episode, Valerie shares:
- What makes bedtime such a special opportunity to connect
- Common challenges parents face when creating consistent bedtime routines
- How bedtime conversations can deepen as your child grows
- And much more!
Bedtime is a wonderful opportunity to encourage a child-like faith in your little one. We hope this conversation helps you work a practice of discipling your child’s heart into your family’s nightly routine.
Links:
- [BOOK Pre-order] Let’s Go! Bible Adventures: Real Bible Stories for Kids Who Love Trains, Tractors, Ice Cream Trucks, and More
- [BOOK] Share the Joy! A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book
- [BOOK] Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
- [BOOK] Catching Thoughts
- Adventures in Odyssey
- Episode 82: Gifting Your Children with Storytime—with Valerie Ellis
- Connect with Valerie on her website, Instagram, or Facebook
Our Takeaways:
1) Add play to your routine. Children are naturally drawn to play—and it turns out, play can be one of the most powerful tools for learning! You may find that the more challenging parts of your child’s routine go a little bit smoother when you find opportunities to allow for play—and you’ll get to connect with them along the way! This could look like giving your child a “horsey ride” to their room, singing or playing a silly song while they brush their teeth, or anything that helps your child have fun.
2) Don’t be afraid to change things up. God has made each of our children unique! What works for one child may not work well for another. Don’t be afraid to shake things up and find what works best for each child in your care. For instance, if your child prefers to focus on one thing at a time, you may find that you can have more meaningful moments with them after all the bedtime necessities (teeth brushing, baths, PJs on, etc…) are completed first.
3) A meaningful bedtime doesn’t have to take a long time. One of the challenges that prevents parents from taking advantage of bedtimes as an opportunity to connect is the fear that an involved bedtime routine will take too long. But the truth is, a meaningful bedtime routine can be as long or as short as you would like! A short bedtime routine might include a simple blessing you pray as you lay your children down to sleep. A longer routine may include reading a devotional together and then diving deeper into it with an age-appropriate discussion. However you choose to structure your child’s bedtime routine, remember that there is no time requirement you have to meet in order to make it meaningful.
Meet Our Guest
Valerie Ellis is an author, speaker, certified teacher, mom, and the founder of the multi-author online resource, Our Everyday Parables, which offers parenting ideas for families pursuing faith and compassion. She is passionate about helping kids and parents connect with God and each other in everyday moments. Valerie lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, Josh, and their two boys. In her spare time, she enjoys live music, eating on the patio, and fresh cilantro.
