I need advice on how to get your children (10,11,12) to go to bed early for school?

Question

I need advice on how to get your children (10,11,12) to go to bed early for school?

Answer 1

During the summer, my parents allowed me to stay up late.  A week or 2 before school started, they would begin to enforce a bed time, making it earlier each night.  Lets say they go to bed at midnight in the summer, but you want them in bed by 9.  Start by saying that they must be in their bed by 11.  Keep it this way for a few days, then slowly taking it back to 9.  Also, it would be wise to make sure that they start getting up earlier too.

Answer 2

not easy but set a bedtime [all at the same time]

and CONSISTINTLY enforce the same bedtime

consistency really is the MOST important thng

dont' let it slide one night

or let the 12 year old up later than the 10 year old

1/2 hour b4 bedtime make sure they're in PJ's brushed teeth..etc... so that they know it's time to wind down

also its hard for kids to sleep if they think the grown-ups are out having fun w/o them so keep noise down

have a punishment for when they arn't being good and getting in bed

whether you're into spanking or time-out...grounding from TV...

w/e works

as long as you are CONSISTENT!

Answer 3

What i do with my kids it might work for you, I have a 8,10 yr old I tell them which ever one goes to bed first for a whole mth will get to take a saturday and we will do whatever they want for half a day. And then thier is times i tease them with money. It works for my kids but you know your kids best and what they like so try to tease them with extra allowance every week or something.

Answer 4

I just read about an awesome new pill called WARM MILK (really!) you could probably google it; It has something to do with the stuff in milk that naturally makes you sleepy but I haven't tried it yet. Other than that, the best thing I use on myself is to start making myself get up 30 minutes earlier and go to sleep when I'm actually sleepy, keeping in mind I can do whatever it is I'm doing now again tomorrow. Keep yourself calm when putting your kids to bed so they can relax. It is also good to have a ritual like showering and brushing teeth before bed, then maybe allow them to read in bed for ten minutes. Put them to bed at the same time every night. Kiss them on the cheek and look them  in the eyes and tell them you love them, because a Mom's love is the most comforting thing in the world!

Answer 5

Take the TV's out of their rooms. Lights out time for bed.

Answer 6

place 3 storybooks in the room,make them read to each other aloud till their eyes get tired, throat dry and definitely they slumber in quickly. U have to let them know the best reader will have a reward maybe by the end of the week or the month. It really works on my 2 girls with age difference of 2 years.Give a try!

Answer 7

Make them. You are the parent. Tell them even if they don't fall asleep right away. It's get in bed and lay quietly. I would make them do some reading or another quiet activity 20-30 minutes before bedtime. Just stick to it.

You are doing what is in their best interest for school. You are also teaching them discipline and responsibility.

Let them argue. But stick to the rules. Relax on the weekend.

Answer 8

well you set up a time you want them to go to bed then about half an hour before there bed time you let them either just stay up  and watchttv or somthing. Or you send them to there room and they can read a book or if theres a tv. in tehre they watch tv, or playing game boy if they have that. Then at there bed time go in shut everything off then say good night.

Answer 9

well their my sisters, 9 10 and 11.

well i unplug the tvs, and turn off their lights and give them very stenr looks.

oh i make them get up 15 minutes earleir then the day before, on and on untill they have one week of waking up at the time they need to for school.

its so fun then place our 5 puppies on them while their sleeping, tehehe

Answer 10

routine. the same thing. everyday. no matter what.

bath/shower

brush teeth

wind down (reading in bed,tv,)

mom says goodnight

sleep

Answer 11

Your first hurdle is yourself.  When you set a bed time and the rules for it, YOU have to keep at it until your kids understand you mean it, it won't change and they can't get you to freak out and yell at them because they're disobeying you.

1. Take the TV and CD's and game players out of their rooms.

2. Set and announce a bed time.

3. Set a bed time routine (showers?, snack?, reading time [no more than 20 minutes]?

4. Say your good nights and turn off the lights.

5.  IGNORE ANY and ALL attempts to get your attention or p**s you off!  Maybe answer 2 calls by re-explaining the new rules without yelling.  Kids turn the lights on?  Just turn 'em off, no words.  Kids call out a third time?  Ignore.  Kids get up from bed?  Usher them back & restate the new rules.

Also, YOU cannot expect it to work quickly.  It may be weeks, you just have to stick to it.  Of course there's always "grounding" them for disobeying the new bed time rules.  Once your kids learn that you are serious they will have no choice but to comply.  YOU'RE the mom, after all and they truly know that.  If they've been used to getting their way all the time, now they'll learn that you've taken back the control of the family.   Good luck.

Answer 12

tell them to go to bed early or you will take priviliges away. or however you discipline them. they are old enough to mind. and understand.

simple as that really.

Answer 13

my parents had me listen to a radio program every night that put me to sleep :]

idk what the modern equivalent of this is tho heh radio is a little old school..maybe just a set routine everynight that helps them wind down?

Answer 14

Your the parent...assert yourself!  Every child is different so keep in mind what works for one, may not work for another.  Positive incentives are great tools.  Loss of privileges can also work.  Whatever the tool, be CONSISTENT!  If you say when A happens, then B....stick to your guns, no matter what!!!  Good luck!