Story-telling before child is undressed, not after he is in bed, that the mind may not be filled with vivid images, or brain congested, when trying to sleep.
Evening stories should be quiet, restful, happy, without gruesome, melodramatic, exciting, or sad atmosphere.
Chanting, humming, rhythmic singing, is relaxing, and five or ten minutes of this after child is in bed may be advantageous, especially with nervous or unruly children.
Massaging down the back, in long slow strokes, Will relieve the congestion of the brain.
Give the child one toy to occupy his hands; prohibit more than one, to prevent mental activity.
Bedtime should not be a time of punishment, recalling of misdeeds, scolding; leave that until the child is most vital, in mid-morning or afternoon. Bedtime should be a quiet, happy time.
A thought impressed upon the child as he is falling to sleep, or directly after, especially if it is repeated for some days or weeks, is absorbed by the subconscious mind and has profound influence upon motives and action. The suggestion may be given aloud to the conscious mind while the child is still awake, or repeated softly or thought intensively, after the conscious mind is dulled by sleepiness.
The child should learn, from early babyhood, to go to sleep by himself, without a light, with the door closed. This is a most important training in self-reliance.
If these conditions are observed, sleep should be restful and undisturbed. Possible disturbing conditions may include constipation, indigestion, intestinal worms, nervousness. The matter should be reported to the physician. Bed-wetting may be overcome by taking the child up during the night, by giving no liquid after four o’clock, by promise of rewards, by mental suggestion. Circumcision may be needed. Punishment is worse than useless.
The Afternoon Nap. The same general conditions should be provided. The room or sleeping porch should be darkened, and ample ventilation and light covering provided. The outer clothing, shoes, stockings should be removed, and nightgown put on over the underwear; or the child may be completely undressed as at night. If the child is disinclined to sleep at nap time, use the spinal sponging with warm water, the spinal massage, and undress completely as at night. Even if the child does not sleep, he will receive the much-needed relaxation, and the resting of spine and heart, the work of which is greatly reduced while lying down.