Is Bedtime Driving You Crazy? Try this!
Is Bedtime Driving You Crazy?
Three Playful, Science-Backed Tricks to Clear the Day Before Sleep
Long day? Not sure if you have anything “left in the tank” for bedtime routines? Take a deep breath—you’re not alone.
Imagine that you and your child are cars. Some days you feel like a zippy little sports car, other days a slow SUV or a rattly old tin can. As you “drive” through the day, your car fills up—first the trunk, then the seats, then every nook and cranny—with all your experiences. Your child’s car is filling up too, with their own joys, frustrations, and discoveries.
By bedtime, you both pull into the same “parking lot,” carrying full loads. The question is: how do you clear out enough space so rest can finally arrive?
Here are three playful, neuroscience-backed ways to “unpack your cars” before sleep.
1. Give Your Car a Check-Up
Your body—like your car—carried you through the whole day. Show it some gratitude. Thank your feet for carrying you, your lungs for breathing, your heart for beating. Do this out loud with your child: “Thank you, legs, for running and playing today!”
Why it works: Body awareness activates the insula (a brain region that helps us notice internal sensations), which calms the nervous system. Naming and appreciating body parts also strengthens self-esteem and body connection for kids.
2. Pick a Favorite Item From Your Car
Invite your child to recall one good thing from their day—a funny moment, a skill they practiced, a kindness given or received. Let yourselves rest on that memory for about 20 seconds. Notice how it feels in the body.
Why it works: Research shows that while negative experiences “stick” easily in the brain (the negativity bias), positive ones need extra time to transfer into long-term memory. Pausing to savor the good rewires both your and your child’s brains toward resilience and happiness.
3. Send Your Car Through the Car Wash
Turn clearing the day into a playful game. Bounce, shake, or wiggle out leftover energy. Pretend scrub brushes are washing away frustrations, soapy bubbles are rinsing away stress, and shiny wax is sealing in peace.
Why it works: Physical play regulates the vagus nerve, which helps shift the body from stress (fight-or-flight) to rest-and-digest mode. Shared silliness also strengthens the parent-child bond—an essential ingredient for kids to feel safe enough to fall asleep.
Final Thoughts
When you clear out your “cars” together at night, you’re not just making bedtime smoother—you’re teaching your child lifelong tools for emotional regulation, resilience, and joy.
Try one of these tonight and notice the shift. With love, magic, and peaceful bedtimes,
💛 Susanne
Resources
Hanson, R. (2013). Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence. Crown Publishing.
Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2012). The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind. Delacorte Press.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. W.W. Norton.