Limits Around Sleep

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of running a sleep workshop at my kids' Montessori School.⁠
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"Freedom within limits" is one of the main tenets of Montessori education.⁠
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In our family - sleep is a limit. Do my kids protest it? Of course! ⁠
Our toddler's job is to push our limits, and, our job as adults to keep those limits firm.⁠
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So - where do I give them freedom? So many places! They get to brush their teeth before we give a "touch up". They have a pee on their own on the potty. They pick their pyjamas. They get themselves dressed. They choose the book. ⁠
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But the limits? They brush their teeth. They have a pee. One or two books depending on whether they have "dilly-dallied". They get into bed. Lights off at 7pm. One visit from a parent 10 minutes after bedtime. That's it.⁠
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As much as our kids protest these limits, they also feel safe within them. And, the more you hold those firm limits, the less protest you get.⁠
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You know what else makes them feel safe? A good night's sleep!⁠