Bedtime: Free time

My dear friend and our webmaster Dawn Diveley gave me a great tip last night. At bedtime with her kids (ages 4 & 7) once they are ready for bed, stories are read, etc....she gives them free time where they can read or play quietly on their bed for 20-30 minutes. This quiet alone time is very helpful to them and makes lights out a breeze at her house! We are going to try that at our house now. Right now, all goes well until it's time for me to leave the room, then come the tears from my 3 and 5 year-old and begging me to stay!
Hopefully, this new quiet time for them to decide what they would like to do will help ease that last half hour before sweet dreams!
The two little girls make for some dramatic pleas! Wish me luck!