How can you relax your energetic toddler at bedtime? Here’s 5 ideas that work with my toddlers!
It’s the end of the day and everyone in the house is tired. Yet for some reason, your toddler is full of energy, and bedtime seems like a daunting future. How can you relax your toddler with love and laughter instead of struggles and tantrums? Often, this burst of energy is actually a sign that they are ready to head to bed, they just need some guidance to get there. Fun games, a safe space, touch, and loving words can make a huge difference. Some activities that work one night won’t work the next, and sometimes they need a little consistency before you’ll start to see results.
Go Outside After Dinner
Going outside in the evening is a fantastic activity during warmer months. It’s one of my favorite ways to invite my kids’ natural energy and curiosity after dinner. The days we make it outside, bedtime goes much smoother and there tends to be fewer challenges getting the kids in bed. There’s no need to relax an energetic toddler who is no longer energetic!
What do we do outside? Depends on your space and the time of year. We always have balls to play with, and most kids like swings and slides. We grow a garden, so the kids love to pick produce, and help water or tend to the plants. If it’s a bath night, we have a pot of dirt that’s free reign. Honestly, give the kids a few items and they’ll create all kinds of activities! I love seeing how inventive they can be.
Act Like an Animal
We play this one in a long hallway. The parent chooses an animal, and the kids go down the hallway acting like that animal. Some of our favorites are lions and tigers, monkeys, butterflies, elephants, and horses. I love how creative they can get! Last time, my daughter grabbed a fluffy blanket to make a lion’s mane, and they’ve found tubes to make into elephant trunks. Silk cloths can also make a fun prop for this, especially for flying creatures. This may not look like it will relax your energetic toddler, but it gives a fun outlet for all the energy that needs to go somewhere.
Clean Up Toss
We often have mega blocks or bean bags lying around the playroom. Instead of a forced cleanup, my kids love to turn it into a game. The favorite lately has been throwing them in. Make it more fun by seeing who can get more pieces in, who can toss the furthest, or who can go the fastest!
This game helps get some of the sillies out and tidies up the floor. Win-win!
Leg Compressions, Pillow Drop, and Pillow Squeeze
Some nights, toddlers need a little extra sensory stimulation to relax. My youngest often gets super fidgety before falling asleep. If I gently squeeze up and down his legs, it’s amazing how fast his body relaxes into the bed. If they’re not quite to the falling asleep stage, my kids all love when I drop a pillow on them several times. I often give a little squeeze around their body with the pillow every few drops, or squeeze it up and down their body. There’s usually lots of giggles, and they love the extra attention, stimulation, and TLC before bed.
Pray Scripture Over Your Toddlers
Bless them with the word of God! This is my final cue that it’s time to be quiet and sleep. “You are blessed and highly favored, fearfully and wonderfully made. You are my son/daughter and I am well pleased with you.” Memorize a few, or share something from a passage you read that day. His word never returns void, and their little spirits are fertile soil. I do my best to plant good seeds every night.
Check out this post for tips to integrate the Bible throughout the day.
I would love to hear which of these activities helps relax your energetic toddler! Do you have others that work well in your home? Drop a comment to help us all learn from each other!
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