Friday Fieldwork: Draw Calm Together
When your kid’s brain won’t stop racing, don’t shut it down, draw near.
This Fieldwork came from an article that discusses the need for a bedtime routine that can step in when the brain is in overdrive. You can read about it here.
Some kids are out cold before you finish saying “goodnight.”
Others inherit the restless-brain gene.
Spinning through questions like, “What if gravity just… stopped?”
When your kid’s brain won’t quit, it’s tempting to turn into bedtime security: “Lights out. Back in bed. No more talking.”
But calm doesn’t usually come by command.
Sometimes what they need isn’t correction.
It’s connection.
This Week’s Fieldwork: The Off-Ramp Reset
Here’s your reset for this week:
Build a bedtime menu.
Offer two or three options when the brain won’t settle: read quietly, doodle, or connect with you.Get them out of the room.
When the spiral is full throttle, lying in bed just fuels it. Snuggle on the couch, doodle side by side, or try a little breath work. (Pro tip: make sure your drawings are worse than theirs. Builds confidence instantly.)End with a micro-blessing.
A simple word of life: “You’re safe.” “I love how creative you are.” “I’m happy that you are feeling better.” Even five words can anchor their heart before sleep.
Side Note for Dads
If you struggle with shutting your own brain off, this reset works for you too.
Make your own bedtime menu: journal, doodle, or pray. NO DOOMSCROLLING
Step out of your room if the spiral kicks in. Think: change the space, change the state.
End with a micro-blessing for yourself: a word of gratitude, a prayer, or even just “I did enough today.”
Because calm isn’t just something you give your kids, it’s something you can choose for yourself.
Why It Works
Sleep researchers say kids often have plenty of sleep pressure (their bodies are ready for rest) but too much cognitive arousal (their minds won’t let go). A calm, connecting “off-ramp” resets their system.
For them, it’s co-regulation.
For you, it’s free therapy with
doodles,
yawns,
and maybe a questionable cartoon monster or two.
Closing Reminder
My son has the “Einstein meets Chicken Little” brain too and I used to think I had to shut it down. The bedtime menu idea is genius. Connection over correction changes everything. Might steal “micro-blessing” and pretend I invented it. 😂