It is so refreshing to read this. We read our kids to sleep every night. Sometimes one book and sometimes 10 books. It's nice and relaxing though. Rarely any tears as they know they have our attention. We also do the 'I'm going to get a cup of tea and come back in a minute'. It has worked for us sometimes.

I've also found that fresh air in the late afternoon helps ours sleep better. Even if it's cool outside, we rug them up and run them ragged playing chasey and kicking a ball or jumping on the trampoline. The kids love it and it is nice time together. That fresh air and exercise wears them down to a good nights sleep better than anything else we've tried. We just need to do it more often.