Ms. Rachel’s New TikTok Might Just Make Bedtime Easier For Your Toddler

If your toddler's bedtime looks like a nightly negotiation, it might be time to try Ms. Rachel’s approach. Instead of asking toddlers to just listen to a list of instructions, she turns the whole routine into something kids can actually see and move through, step by step.

In a new TikTok, Ms. Rachel introduces the new Goodnight Frankie Bedtime Playset. The set features one Frankie plush, one sleeping bag, five felt accessories, one sticker sheet, one chart and one learning card. The card shows each step of Frankie's routine, from tidying up and bath time through pyjamas, stories and going to sleep. Instead of you telling your child what to do next, they can act out the whole routine with their toy before bedtime starts or as they move through each step. It’s part toy, part schedule, and helps little kids understand what to expect every night. Plus, it encourages executive functioning skills.

Why visual routines help toddlers

For young children who can’t read yet, those colourful visuals do a lot of heavy lifting. They turn an abstract idea ("bedtime is coming") into concrete, bite-sized steps, making the whole thing feel more manageable and less surprising.

Toddlers thrive on predictability, but they don’t always have the language skills to follow long verbal explanations, especially at the end of the day when everyone’s tired. A chart like this:

• Gives kids a sense of control, because they can see the plan and follow along.
• Reduces power struggles, since "the chart" (not just the parent) shows what happens next.
• Makes transitions smoother, because there’s a clear beginning, middle and end to bedtime.

How to DIY your own bedtime play set at home

You don’t need Ms. Rachel’s exact playset to borrow the idea. Grab a toy you already have. It could be a doll or a car. And draw a chart, as Ms. Rachel recommends in the video, showing the character moving through their bedtime routine. You can use a small blanket as a sleeping bag and a real extra toothbrush to brush the toy's teeth.

The specific props don’t matter as much as the pattern. The more your child can see bedtime as a predictable sequence instead of a sudden shutdown of fun, the easier it is for everyone to wind down.