Sesame Street is turning 40! Since 1969, children and adults alike have flocked to the place where multiethnic, multigenerational, and even multispecies residents coexist in harmony.
Raising 4 kids and killer dust bunnies for the last 15 years, I feel it safe to say that our family has dealt with our fair share of bedtime issues.
Lately, my youngest (she's 8) insists that she canNOT sleep in her "big new bed" without her big sister, Holly.
Forget the chance of getting any sleep, on our upcoming vacation, during the myriad of festivities and fireworks, on the 4th of July, right?
Guess what? It's bedtime on Sesame Street, too. Aaaand, like my personal in-house muppets, Elmo doesn’t want to go to sleep yet, he wants to play.
We're very excited to have partnered with Sesame Workshop in helping to promote "healthy bedtime habits" and bringing you an exclusive interview with a long-time This Full House favorite bedtime friend, Elmo.
Hope came up with some pretty gosh-darned good questions. She did a great job, right? I want to take this moment to thank our friend Elmo for taking time out of his very busy schedule to talk us!
Sesame Workshop also invites parents (like me) to try some of these bedtime tips this weekend:
Help your child transition to bed by having predictable activities that take place at the same time each night, such as going to the bathroom, brushing teeth, getting into pajamas and reading stories. Children can be comforted by routine and benefit if their bedtime schedule is followed as regularly as possible
Quiet Playtime
Help your child wind down from the day by getting him into pajamas earlier than usual and engaging in relaxing activities like reading, playing a quiet game, doing a puzzle, or drawing together. Give him extra long cuddles before putting him to bed!
Sharing Special Moments
Talk to your child about her day before going to sleep. Ask her to choose a favorite part of the day and discuss why it was special. Encourage her to think of something that she is looking forward to doing tomorrow as she falls asleep.
Bedtime Stories
Help your child choose a favorite book at bedtime. After reading the story, ask him what he thinks his favorite character might do to get ready for bed. Talk about ways his bedtime routines might be similar or different. Remind him that everyone needs a good night’s sleep to feel rested and energized in the morning!
Glimmer of Light
Help your child feel safe when sleeping in the dark by placing a small night light in his room or hallway. You can also let him keep a small flashlight under his pillow to help him feel safe. Talk to him about how he is feeling and let him know that while it is okay to be scared, reassure him that there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark and you are always close by if he needs you.
Sweet Dreams
Provide your child with a quiet, cozy and comfortable bedroom for her to sleep in. Your child should look forward to sleeping in her room and feel safe and secure. Allow her to have her favorite blanket or stuffed animal nearby for comfort when going to bed. You can also set up a CD player to play soft calming music or lullabies as she falls asleep.
The nighttime routine gets a little easier when Bedtime With Elmo debuts on DVD July 7 from Genius Products and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street.
Want one?
After 40 years, bringing kids together into one big family-friendly neighborhood, everyone (and their brother) pretty much knows the way to Sesame Street, right? We've partnered with the good folks at Genius Products and Sesame Workshop in helping to promote "healthy bedtime habits" by offering three (3) of our readers the chance to win a copy of Bedtime with Elmo!
Because, that's how we roll here at This Full House of early birds and late, late, late night owls.
U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY, PLEASE
FIND IT HERE: Amazon.com
Download Bedtime Coloring Page
GET IT HERE: What is your favorite Sesame Street moment? To enter, leave a comment, with a valid email address on this post by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 16th and you're automatically entered to win. Three (3) winners will be picked (via random.org) and announced via email and posted on My Prizey Giveaways Page!
EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN - NEW RULES: 2nd entry: Blog about this giveaway - leave a separate comment and a link to your blog post. 3rd entry: Subscribe to our feed - leave a separate comment, to lock in entry. 4th entry: Subscribe to our updates via email - leave a separate comment, to lock in entry. 5th entry: Post this giveaway on Twitter - leave a separate comment and a link to your Tweet. FOR A TOTAL OF 5 (FIVE) COMMENTS = 5 (FIVE) POSSIBLE CHANCES TO WIN! Good luck and don't forget to check out our giveaways page for more awesome stuff we're just itching to, you know, giveaway!
[No payment, other than a sample of their product for the purpose of a review, was received for this blog post - courtesy of Bender Helper Impact and Genius Products]
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