The child appreciates your time together.

He will settle down and prepare himself for the transition from play and activities to sleep and rest.

Children respond well to structure and routines. They like it and recognize things. Chaos and unpredictability, on the other hand, makes them feel unsafe.

There is nothing that says that there must be reading and singing involved; one can also listen to a tape together, playing music and telling a story. It will help the child to go to sleep.

To go to bed is boring, but to listen to a story on a tape in the dark together with mum and dad is fun and the child will fall asleep without any whining or protests.