Routine , Routine and more Routine...
and you and your other half set the Routine..
Once they have it in their heads that that is how life is then you're half way there.
A big Routine for our two Sons when they we're toddlers (15 & 10 now) was making sure their evening wind down time was adhered too..
You know the score..
Tea Time together as a Family(If possible) and have good gab and a laugh together.
Bath time fun
All clean and PJ's on
Storytime and bedtime bottle with Mum or Dad (Usually me , but that was ace and meant a lot to me) and maybe , just maybe, if they've been good, ONE episode of Tellytubbies or Fireman Sam or whatever their fav programme is these days..
Then off to bed at a reasonable time, to sleep I might add, so Mum & Dad can spend some quality time together for the remainder of the evening,
It has it's moments as we all know but if you stick to it, it works..
One thing that we insisted on was that both lads did NOT sleep during the day , whoever was looking after them, her sister , her folks, my folks , the childminder, the nursery.. we tried to drill it in them that max nap time was around 30 mins and early in the afternoon as possible so that when it did get to evening time after bath time they we're ready for bed...you could tell, as parents if this routine had been stuck too otherwise you were dealing with a very wide awake little boy at 10/11 at night which used to really piss me n herself off..Obviously if they are poorly then thats different..
Too many children are allowed to "rule the roost" these days with their late night demands and tantrums and poor, knackered Mum & Dad give in just to keep the peace and quiet..
It's when they get a bit older and they discover "Technology" that the fun starts !!. Facebook , Nintendo DS , Xbox , PS4 , Instagram , Google, Amazon, i-Pad , Wii , Mobile Phones , Laptops , Kindle ...but thats another thread mate..
MAKE THE ROUTINE YOURS