Recommended age for technique:
3 and up

Description of technique:
Give the child a special bedtime pass to be used only once per night. Can be for drink of water, one last hug, or whatever the child decides is worthy of using the pass for.

My husband and I read about this idea in our local paper, tried it that night and it has worked wonders ever since. Our daughter was three and half when we instituted the bedtime pass. She was constantly coming out of her room after the whole bedtime routine -- asking for water, telling us she wasn't sleepy, she was too hot, she wanted a hug....whatever she could come up with to put off the inevitable: falling asleep!

We gave her an old department store card to keep under her pillow and told her if she needed something after she was in bed she could use her bedtime pass and come out just once. This has worked like a charm!! She takes it very seriously.

Other comments or suggestions:
Card can be something as simple as old dept. store credit card or you could make a fancy bedtime pass complete with sparkles and jewels -- use your imagination!