Richard Ferber

“In later years, your child will still appreciate having some time with you before he goes to sleep. He needs close, warm, personal time , something that simply watching television together, for instance, will not provide: even if the shows are not exciting or scary —which is unlikely— and even if you are sitting next to him, the lack of direct personal interaction makes this bedtime routine a poor one. Instead, use the time to discuss school events, plans for the weekend, soccer, dance class, after-school programs, or music lessons. It might also be helpful to talk about any worries your child may have, so he will be less likely to brood over them in bed.”
― Richard Ferber, Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems

“If you think it’s tolerable that your four-year-old son comes into your bed each night, against your will, and kicks you or your partner until one of you has to move to another room, then you may not understand the importance of setting and enforcing rules. The same could be said if you see nothing wrong with letting your child determine when and where he will eat, what television shows he will watch, and when he goes to bed, or if you believe you should always buy him anything he wants (to keep him from throwing tantrums in public, perhaps).”
― Richard Ferber, Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems