Life as a parent is hectic—whether you’re juggling work, running a household, or managing school admin, the to-do lists seem endless. As a parent of three children and a business owner, I completely understand the constant balancing act. The guilt we often feel when there isn’t enough time in the day to truly connect with our little ones can be overwhelming. After a full day at school or nursery, children can crave that one-on-one attention at precisely the time when you’re trying to settle them for bed. This can easily turn bedtime into a battleground, as they seek to extend their time with you. Providing them with quality time throughout the day can prevent these bedtime struggles and foster a smoother, more restful routine.
You might be surprised to learn that when it comes to one-on-one time with your child, quality really does outweigh quantity. Just 15-20 minutes of focused, child-led play each day can be enough to fill up their attention cup. This time, separate from the bedtime routine—which should remain calm and focused on winding down—can help prevent them from seeking attention at bedtime, when they’re often overtired and less suited for active games like hide and seek or rough play. Try to schedule these short, meaningful play sessions either before or after dinner, or during the weekend when your routine allows for more flexibility.
So, what kinds of activities fill your child’s attention cup? While watching a film or reading a book together can be lovely, it’s the interactive, child-led play that really makes them feel like they have your undivided attention. What works best depends on your child’s personality, but it could be anything from playing a game, dressing up, building with Lego, racing cars, cooking together, or even playing tag. The specific activity isn’t as important as ensuring it’s something you both enjoy. The quality of this one-on-one time can have a significant positive impact on a child’s sleep, which is why we always include it in our sleep plans for families. For more ideas on engaging play, you can visit the NHS website here.
As always, if you are struggling with your child’s sleep – for whatever reason – please do get in touch, we’d love to help.
