The last half-hour before bed

The sheet

Your family’s last half-hour before bed, in the order you chose together, with a box for each step to draw in and a line to write it.

For the fridge · A4 · One page · PDF, 41 KB

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It goes with The Hour Before Bed.

How it helps

Children usually settle more easily when bedtime goes the same way each night. Steps they have helped to choose, in the same order and up on the fridge, mean fewer reminders and fewer arguments, and a calmer last half-hour for all of you.

How to use it

1. Choose the steps together, in the order you’ll do them most nights, and let your child draw each one in its box or write it on the line.
2. Fill in when screens go off and when the lights go out. Turn screens off before the half-hour begins, ideally an hour before they sleep.
3. Agree what you’ll say at the door, and say the same words each night.
4. Go slowly, and give the new order at least two weeks.

How to print it

Print it at home on A4, at actual size (100%) in the print settings. It reads as well in black and white as in colour.