Photo: Stephanie Han Kim via Instagram
 
My son, Alex, and I used to enjoy bedtime stories and snuggles on a regular basis. But now that he?s 11, his nightly routine has been reduced to me nagging him about going to bed and then a quick hug before he tucks himself in. I miss our old routine, but since he?s capable?in theory?of doing it by himself, dropping it from our day seemed easier.
However, parents shouldn?t overlook the benefits of bedtime routines for big kids, says Shelly Weiss, a neurologist and sleep expert from Toronto?s Hospital for Sick Children. Data has shown that 40 percent of Canadian kids are sleep deprived, and our busy lifestyles are to blame: After-school activities, commutes, homework and screen time all cut into precious sleep. Kids between ages six and 13 should get nine to 11 hours a night, says Weiss. Parent involvement and a predictable schedule will help your child wind down and fall asleep more efficiently, at a reasonable hour. Schedule time to bond

If you?re trying to tack one-on-one time onto the end of an already full day, you?ll likely rush it or choose to skip it altogether. Parents have to make time for the bedtime routine, says Weiss. Dawn Suzette Smith, a mom of two from Halifax, shifted her nine-year-old son Dylan?s bedtime earlier to add a few minutes for talking about the good and bad aspects of his day. Angela MacKay, a psychologist in Halifax, explains that giving kids a chance to decompress or confide in a parent may prevent...