Sweet Dreams…

by Judy Newman

When I was a kid, I loved to wear Lanz of Salzburg nightgowns. They were long and warm and cozy. And their prints and ruffles felt old fashioned, so I could pretend to be going to sleep in another time and place. My Lanz nightgowns (and Carter’s short sets in the summer); my bedroom, which I painted purple and complemented it with a purple shag rug; and my bookshelves full of books to read and have read to me were all part of a safe, warm, and comforting bedtime routine that set me up for a good night’s sleep and a good next day. When my kids came along, they wore OshKosh B’Gosh and Hanna Andersson pajamas and we always, always read stories to them before bed. Healthy bedtimes routines were non-negotiable.

As Scholastic’s first Chief Impact Officer, one of my key roles is to activate and nurture partnerships between Scholastic and organizations that are dedicated to ensuring all children have access to choose and own wonderful, relatable books that support their literacy in safe, healthy environments at home and in school.  

In the spirit of underscoring the importance of a healthy goodnight routine, I want to spotlight Pajama Program, one of Scholastic’s cherished partners since 2008. Pajama Program is dedicated to ensuring that the most vulnerable children have a safe, warm, and cozy bedtime routine—with a new pair of pajamas and a brand-new book. 

Pajama Program, Executive Director, Jamie Dyce says: “We believe that comforting bedtime routines present an invaluable opportunity for caregivers to bond with their children through a love of reading and the magic of story time. During this special time, children can drift off to sleep feeling safe, secure, and peaceful, improving the quality of their sleep, and ultimately, their overall health, social emotional development, and academic success. When we dream of children being supported in fulfilling their true potential, it all begins by sharing a story time ritual with a caring adult at bedtime.” 

Some of my favorite bedtime books:

We all need sleep–but with brains and bodies that are developing rapidly, children need a lot more. However, children experiencing poverty face unique challenges to having a good night’s sleep, getting significantly less sleep than children in communities with greater economic means. That’s where Pajama Program steps in. We have spent more than two decades working to level the playing field, helping children and their caregivers build better bedtimes to ensure every child can have Good Nights for Good Days. Our approach centers the bond between a child and a caregiver to promote comfort, safety, and trust at the critical moment the 24-hour day begins for a child—bedtime. This bond is essential so children can get the duration and quality of sleep they need to develop, learn, grow, and thrive. 

Pajama Program not only works with children, but partners with the influential adults in a child’s life, like parents, educators, and caregivers to help create lasting changes at bedtime. The program provides tools directly to children, like new pajamas, books, and teddy bears that help them grasp bedtime cues and shed the stress of their day. It also provides training and workshops for their adults about bedtime routines and strategies that promote healthy sleep. By working with children and their adults, Pajama Program fosters the connections that are the foundation of a bedtime routine, developing lifelong habits and impact across generations. 

“The result of our work? Kids sleep an average of 30 minutes longer each night,” Dyce says. “Through our network of 4,000+ community-based partners, we’ve delivered nearly 8 million new pajamas and books to children in shelters, community centers, and classrooms nationwide. At our centers in NYC, Atlanta, and Detroit, we welcome volunteers to join us in teaching our R.E.A.D.Y. bedtime routine and sharing stories with thousands of local students from under-resourced schools each year. Our Good Night Advisory Council is made up of leading experts in children’s sleep and bedtime representing a range of disciplines including medicine, population studies, public health, and psychology. Our work is evidence-based and supported by research that helps to achieve sustainable impact for the children, families, communities, and systems we work with. Pajama Program promotes equitable access to healthy sleep so all children can thrive. We imagine a world where every child wakes up ready to fulfill their potential. With your help, we can reach more children and their families nationwide. Join us in making Good Nights for Good Days a reality for all children.”

To support Pajama Program’s mission and make a donation, visit pajamaprogram.org. To learn more about its work, watch this video. As is tradition, Scholastic Book Clubs has pledged to match every pair of donated pajamas with a brand-new storybook!  

As the holidays sweep down upon us, take a minute to remember your own childhood bedtime routines and what they meant to you. My very best wishes to all for a happy holiday season and a safe, productive, healthy, and fun new year, which will be here before we know it!

Please send me any of your favorite monster books: judy.newman@Scholastic.com.

Happy Reading!

XX,
Judy

Judy Newman, Chief Impact Officer, Scholastic