Colouring has always been a fun activity for children and recently adult colouring has become mom and dad’s new pastime, especially at bedtime. Good Night Sleep Site has been a strong supporter of introducing adult colouring at bedtime to calm and quiet the mind, so when I was asked to write the afterword for the latest in Lacy Mucklow and Angela Porter’s Color Me To series – Color Me To Sleep – not only was I completely honoured but I couldn’t think of a better match.
It can be hard to find an activity that can calm our minds and remove us from the chaos of our usual day. Colouring allows us to do this and it’s also just so darn fun! Family colouring is a perfect addition to our #BringBackBedtime initiative and if colouring is a hobby you want to start but are having a difficult time fitting it into your day I’m here to tell you there is no better time than at bedtime.
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Forget The Usual Story Time and Bring Out the Crayons
Are you tired of hearing the same response over and over again when you ask your child how their day was? “It was fine.” “School was good.” If you want to start opening the communication between you and your child start at bedtime and colouring will give you the perfect backdrop to ask those open ended questions that will strengthen the attachment that you want with your child. While we don’t want to overlook the importance of literacy, exchange story time 2 nights a week with colouring. Mom or dad can grab their own colouring book and colour along side your little one and start talking. Ask the questions or create your own bedtime stories with the pictures you’re colouring, and enjoy 30 minutes of quality time with one another.
Turn Off The TV and Sharpen Your Pencils
If you are struggling to fall asleep at night because your mind won’t slow down, colouring during your bedtime routine is perfectly calming and a great way to practice mindfulness, which can aid in helping you fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer. Replace your tablet and remote control with your colouring book on your night table and incorporate this relaxing hobby during your bedtime routine. While this may not suit all partners, why not colour along side each other before you go to bed. It will encourage you to start going to bed at the same time each night and open communication between one another, which can be hard to do while you’re in the throes of your usual day-to-day routine.
Can’t Sleep? Get Out of Bed and Colour
An important step when treating insomnia with my clients is encouraging them to get out of bed when they are having difficulty falling back to sleep at night. Tossing and turning because you can’t fall back to sleep when waking in the middle of the night is only going to heighten your anxiety and stress. It’s okay to get out of bed for 15 to 30 minutes and then try again. What’s important is to find the best activity when getting out of bed that can encourage the relaxing and calming environment you need to help you fall back to sleep. Checking your emails, surfing the internet, or watching TV can be replaced by simply colouring. It’s best to set up your colouring station before you go to bed so that everything is prepared and waiting for you if you need it throughout the night.
Purchase Color Me To Sleep for more designs here.
It’s simple really. A good night’s sleep starts at bedtime.
Good Night Sleep Site is asking you to join our movement and #BringBackBedtime.
Alanna McGinn is a Certified Sleep Consultant and Founder of Good Night Sleep Site – a Global Pediatric and Family Sleep Team. She provides free child and family sleep support through her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. She invites you to join her sleep community as she works towards Good Night Sleep Site’s mission of a healthier rested family unit. For more sleep tips please visit Good Night Sleep Site. Join our movement and #BringBackBedtime.
