ADDED: He doesn't have any toys in his room. Just his bed, a dresser and his clock. He has a separate playroom for his toys which is down the hall from my bedroom.
Since the time change my 5 y/o DS has started waking up once it gets light out which is about 5:45 am. We bought black out shades to keep his room dark but his internal clock is still waking him at 5:45 which before he was waking at 6:45-7:15. The house is not dark at 5:45 anymore. UGH!! He has a clock in his room and before the time change he was excellent about checking the clock before waking us up.
We’ve tried putting him to bed later for a few nights but that didn’t work. I’ve told him in the morning when he wakes up to not wake us up. I’m usually up by 6:30 am. He plays but he doesn’t play quietly. He tries but then he gets loud again.
This morning my husband said we need to start dishing out consequences??? He woke us up at 5:45 this morning insisting that he was hungry and wanted to go downstairs. I took him to his playroom and told him to play quietly until we were ready to get out of bed at 6:30. He did go in his play room but he wasn’t quiet (he wasn’t loud but playing like it was afternoon not 5:45 am!). Ten minutes later he is saying he wants something to eat again and doesn’t want to go downstairs alone. I got out of bed and my DS gave me a hug and said I love you and I’m sorry for waking you up but I’m not tired…..SIGH….. He is super sweet but I’m SSOOOOO tired!
Tonight is my daughter’s end of season soccer party and some of the Moms are bringing their younger kids too. My son was going to come with me to play with the other kids. My DH said he will be staying home and not going. That is his punishment for continuing to wake us up so early. He believes we are enabling this by NOT giving him a consequence. I do agree but what is appropriate? Do I just suck it up until the time Springs forward???
What do you think? Should my son not go tonight?
How would you handle this and what have you done if your kids wake you up too early?
HELP!!! =-)
GREAT IDEA leaving him a snack! DUH!!!! How obvious of a solution is THAT?? O.K. dumb mommy moment.
I'm taking him to the party tonight and tomorrow morning leaving a snack and drink in his playroom =-)
Why don't you have him pick out books, crayons and coloring book or someother type of "quiet" toy to put in his room for when he wakes up earlier than the rest of the household. You could also leave a snack in there as well for him to eat in case he's hungry prior to you getting up and preparing breakfast.
My DD is 3 and knows to play in her room until I get up. Then we get her milk and nutrigrain bar and she watches tv for a while until I fully wake up. It sounds like your son is playing ok, he's just hungry. Why not give him a morning snack to munch on until you get up? Maybe a baggie of cereal and a glass of milk. I wouldn't punish him for this. He's just 5. Kids are early birds! Just because I'm not a morning person doesn't mean that my kids can't be. If he's being too loud, I'd make sure that you tell him that he can have a reward if he helps you get extra sleep. Maybe a daily sticker or toy car...
I don't think I would punish for waking up early. I would get a color changing clock and a baby gate on his door. Then empty his room of all but the toys he can play with in the morning. Then, close your door.
Set up a bowl of cereal and milk for him the night before or some other thing for him to eat without your input. Perhaps setting up a video for him to watch instead of the whole playing thing may help too.
As for the punishment, I don't like it because it punishes the parents too. Grounding someone always means some adult will need to watch and monitor the grounded person (meaning both parent and child are being punished). Honor your husband's decision on the punishment but have a private talk with him about what punishment should be given for waking the family early. This way you and hubby can be on the same page. While your son is only 5. A 5 year old should be capable of being quiet for at least 30 minutes. Usually in our house that would mean check on him because he is up to no good but you know your kid better than I do. I hope this helps.
I never thought to punish my kids for waking up early. Some kids wake early, some sleep in and are hard to wake. I'll take waking up early any day. My daughter just turned 8 and my son is 5. My daughter since 1st grade, gets up - reads in her room for a bit, showers and gets dressed for school - all this usually before I'm even up. My son get dressed on his own shortly after waking. We are NEVER in a rush in the morning. So - there are positives to the kids waking early.
I think your little guy is old enough to hang out for a bit on his own till you wake up. Maybe set up some guidelines. Set some snacks out for him, tell him what he CAN do when he gets up and let him be your alarm clock - tell him when the clock says 6:00 (for example) you can wake Mommy up!
Love the suggestion of the snack in the playroom!
Just another thought... he's young, but you could start working on the concept of time with him. Go get an inexpensive clock (analogue please!) and put it in his line of vision. Then, next to the clock on the wall or table, draw a picture of a clock face with exaggerated "hands" that are indicating 6:30. Let him know that when the "real clock" looks JUST LIKE THIS (picture), you can come get me!
My mom did this with my sister when we were kids and it worked really well.
I would tell him he is not allowed out of bed until the time you choose. Have him look on the clock, put a piece of paper right under it that he can see. The time has to match that time. Then like someone suggested put books/coloring books/crayons on a table next to his bed. If he wakes up he either has to lay quietly or her can choose to look at books or color.
Then put the consequences in place. But, don't take away something today he had no idea was going to be taken away.
Good luck!
I know it is frustrating to you and your husband because you are both tired and would like a bit more sleep but come on! Everyone goes through different sleep patterns all the time, he shouldn't be punished for it.
Just two months or so ago my 6 yr old who almost always woked up between 6:20 and and 6:40am was waking up at 5:45am daily for about 2 -3 weeks and eventually it stopped and went back to normal. Some mornings I asked him if he wanted me to lay with him in bed until it was time to get up and I did (although he never fell back alseep because he just wasn't tired). Sometime we would go downstair and he would play toys while I made my coffee or I layed half asleep on the couch. Try and go to sleep a little earlier so you can catch up on some rest until he starts to sleep in longer.
Some kids... do not know if they are being "loud."
My kids do not, all the time.
And my kids are Trumpets!
But I do not punish for what time they wake up.
They DO know... that in the morning... to "whisper."
They do that.
They know to be quiet.... to tip-toe.
I have told them that... to "whisper" and "tip-toe."
But kids are kids... and the day starts early!
