Why Tucking In Your Kids Matters More Than You Think

Why Bedtime Might Be the Most Important 15 Minutes of Your Day

Dad, do you tuck your kids in at night?

If not, you might be missing out on one of the best, most emotionally rich moments in all of fatherhood.

In one of our Father of the Year essay contests, a first grader wrote:

“At night before bed we talk about our day and if I am sad or scared he always makes me feel good before going to sleep because he reminds me of the good things that happened.”

That’s the power of bedtime.
It’s not just routine—it’s reassurance.
It’s not just winding down—it’s connecting deeply when hearts are most open.

Bedtime Is a Sacred Space

The lights are low. The day is done.
And in those final few minutes, your presence speaks louder than a thousand parenting books.

Your kids may have been wild all day—or maybe you barely saw them between school, work, and dinner. But at bedtime, something shifts.

They pause.
They open up.
They remember you’re their safe place.

When You’re There at Bedtime, Here’s What You Give

1. Security
Your presence reassures them: “I’m here. You’re safe. You’re not alone.”

2. Perspective
You help them process their day—the wins, the losses, the funny, and the frustrating.

3. Connection
Bedtime has a way of surfacing everything that didn’t make it into earlier conversations. Fears. Questions. Random facts about dinosaurs.

4. Blessing
It’s the perfect moment to remind them they’re loved—not for what they do, but simply for who they are.

What to Do in Those 15 Minutes

Not every night will be perfect. But these simple steps can make bedtime meaningful:

• Show up whenever possible. Even if it’s just for a moment.
• Give focused, undistracted time—no screens, no to-do lists.
• Ask open-ended questions.

“What was the best part of your day?”
“Did anything today make you feel sad or confused?”

• Read together. Laugh together. Pray together.
• Speak a blessing.
  Something simple, like: “God bless you, I’m so proud of you, and I love you more than you know.”

One dad, Nicholas’s father, made it his habit—even after a long workday—to gently draw the sign of the cross on his son’s forehead and whisper,

“Sleep with angels, son. Daddy loves you.”

That kind of consistency forms an emotional anchor for a child.

Tips for Making Bedtime a Win

• Don’t correct or discipline at bedtime.
  Save the tough talks for another time. This moment is for restoration, not redirection.
• Respect their preferences.
  Some kids want songs, others want stories. Some just want a shoulder rub and silence. The routine might change, but your presence always matters.
• If they only want Mom for now, that’s okay.
  Stay involved. Help out with part of the routine. Offer your own moment of connection even if it’s brief.
• Make it fun when needed.
  Bring a joke. Share a funny memory. Let laughter be the last sound they hear.

Bedtime Is an Investment with Long-Term Return

The teenage years are coming.
But even then—even when they’re taller than you—they’ll still remember these quiet moments.

And don’t underestimate it:

Every child, even teenagers, should still get a goodnight kiss on the forehead.

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