I have a problem getting my kids up every morning for school. They go to sleep by 10 pm every night, and set their alarms to wake up in the mornings. sounds good so far, right?
Well......The problem is that they don't wake up to their alarms.
My oldest sets his alarm for 6am, and sets is at the loudest volume he can. It is right above his head too, so you would think that once it would go off that he would wake up........well, he doesn't. He doesn't even turn to shut it off!!!
My room is across the hall from his and I wake up to his alarm!!!
How could he sleep right thru that??? I really do not understand that.
My younger son doesn't set his alarm that loud, but he has a beeping alarm that goes off about 5 minutes after my older son's alarm. He doesn't wake up to his alarm either. Either my husband or I go in there and try to get him up every morning.
And every morning he will tell us 'please 5 more minutes'...........well if we give him the 5 more minutes, then he asks for 5 more minutes. I have tried to make them go to sleep earlier so they could wake up better, but that doesn't work.....they still act the same way in the morning.
My kids have gone up at 9pm and sometimes have fallen asleep on the sofa earlier than that.
My younger son is supposed to take the bus to school each day.........I think he makes it maybe once a week if even that.
I usually take him to school every day, and he is usually late too.
he has so many tardies, and he doesn't really care about that..........but I do. I tell him all the time that it is not good for him
to be late to school so much.
If I could let my kids sleep in, they would probably sleep til 3pm every day.
I don't know what to do about this.
Does anyone have any advice on this?
Thank you
(by the way, I forgot to mention my kids are 13 and 15, and both boys have radio alarms, but my youngest sometimes sets his to beep, thinking that would wake him up better.........that still doesn't work though.)
The other Moms are right--10:00!! I have no idea how old they are but that is WAY too late for kids.
I have a 13 and 10 year old they are in bed by 8:30-9:00 and I have never had problems with them waking up. There is plenty of time to stay up later on week-ends and vacations.
It is generally considered that 8 hours of sleep a night is insufficient for teens, particularly while they're still growing. There has been a lot of research about the importance of early-morning sleep for teens' brains to function properly, particularly their memories -- but that's hardly useful information if they have somewhere to be before 7am.
In some northern European country, probably Sweden or Norway, the school system took this research seriously and swapped high school to start at 1pm. I'm sure your kids would love that...
Of course, I think of things like time zones... if they were living in a time zone 8 hours away, sleeping to 3pm would be getting up at 7am... and to my mind the issue is still duration, not the time of the day.
Our culture has made a big deal about the sophistication of 'staying up late' and how 'babies go to bed early' (and nap)... when that doesn't reflect actual sleep needs very well. If a child needs 12 hours of sleep in the course of 24 hours, they should sleep for 12 hours, starting early enough to actually get enough, or napping earlier to enable them to go to bed later. Perhaps a nap after school would do more for their ability to wake on time than going to bed 2 hours earlier (which is probably still not early enough).
It has been suggested by sleep researchers that North Americans on average are underslept every single night by more than an hour and a half... which adds up (as premature aging, body stress, as well as eroding memory and concentration) over the week to a deficit of 8-15 hours... the equivalent of not having slept at all for one or more nights. This impairs reaction time and has been suggested to be as dangerous for driving as being significantly drunk.
What will make it easier for your kids to wake up on time? Getting a little older, no longer growing, getting enough rest throughout the day, getting enough sleep before midnight to enable them to wake refreshed and some variety of stress-relief strategy so they sleep better all night. Meditation, daily exercise, prayer, massage, avoiding stressors (like tv and monitor screens -- the flicker aggitates brains) late in the evening, hot baths, turning down the lights so the evenings are dimmer...
It sounds like they are running on a lack of sleep. The recomendation is AT LEAST 8 hours, and more for teens and kids...
Here's how it would sound in my house....
New house rules...
Kids in bed BY 9... so start getting ready at 8:30...
"But mom!!!"
If after one week you guys get up on time with out the grumping then we will start moving the time back 15 min a week. BUT if the grumps start again its moving UP 15 min...
"Its no fair, all my friends...."
"This is soooo mean"....
Well, if you are old enough to have an alarm, your old enough to get up with it...Being late to school is not an option anymore, tardiness = loss of privelage... (tv, game time, etc.)
And on the up side, more adult time for mom...
Now onto reality...
Some people just don't hear alarms... I would suggest finding a different alarm. My one uncle had one that hooked to his stereo and he'd turn it on REALLY LOUD!!! Sorta sounded like you were getting run over by a boom box, so you'd want to jump out of the way. I was closer to 17 or so when I finally could wake up to the beeping alarms... We joke about my 2 youngest uncles NEVER waking up when they were supposed to EXCEPT for the ONE time we had a chimney fire and all dad had to do was yell once... Now they both are early risers. I think it comes with age and necessity.
Unless I missed it, you didn't say how old your kids are, however, they probably need more sleep no matter the age. Kids, even way into their teen years, need lots of sleep to keep up their energy, stamina, and well being. I'd try getting them in bed an hour earlier and see if that helps. Here is a link to a table that shows how much sleep kids need even into their teen years. http://www.drpaul.com/behaviour/sleep.html
If they're teens, they need as much sleep as when they were toddlers, but of course, don't want to do that! I made my son walk to school in the rain after missing the bus because he wouldn't get up repeatedly. As my younger 2 approach their teens, they're getting that way, too. If they're falling asleep on the couch, I'd say they're not getting enough sleep. 5 more minutes should not be an option unless they've proven they can follow through and get up after that. Someone suggested a contract thing. "5 more minutes costs ______, If I drive you to school, it costs -----" Whatever you decide together. They need to acknowledge the problem, then come up with the solutions with you. You saying it probably isn't enough. A family meeting might work or individual 1 on 1, that depends on them and you'd know that best. Good luck!
My Hubby is this way GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
You need to stop this now for the sanity of there future wives.
Sit them down and tell them that when they sleep they need to remember to listen for the alarms. It is very important 'cause if there is a fire they need to wake up to the smoke alarm.
Teenage boys get the bum deal on sleep, for sure! There is scientific evidence that their circadian rythm gets all messed up around the age of 14 or so....some earlier, some later. Their brains actually tell them that they should be sleeping between the hours of midnight and 10am! So...when we parents try to fight nature...guess who wants to win??
All I can say is it will get better. Make them set their alarms and put them accross the room...so they have to get up to turn it off. Also, research non-traditional methods of 'alarms' that may work better. You can help them, but you probably can't change them! Now, Im not saying they should be left to sleep all day, that's crazy...but it's not entirely laziness!
~L.
Hi friend lol. Listen. I know we've talked about this, but I have one suggestion about something I didn't know about. DON'T let them have that 5 more minutes anymore. When they ask for it, tell them NO!!! and make them get up. I also like the idea the one mother had about making them walk if they miss the bus...that might actually teach them a good lesson. I don't know how far it is to school (and far may solve the problem), so it may or may not be an option...but it's a great suggestion. Email ya later!!!
How old are they? I think your problem isthey are not getting enough sleep. I would set an earlier bed time.
You may also want to look into talking alaram clocks. I read a report once that recommened talking fire alarms with mom or dad's voice b/c children will sleep though alarams but often response to their parent's voice. Would't they love to wake up every morning to your voice telling them to wake up!
My son is 13 and has the same problem your kids have. I have taken to setting my alarm and getting him up, that way the whole house isn't woke up at 6:15. He goes to bed by 9 PM.
Have you considered taking away privliges when they don't get up and are late for school, such as video games, computers, cell phones, car, etc? School is almost over, but in the fall I'd suggest them going to bed earlier. Kids need lots of sleep. Good luck!
My husband was the same way. I didn't think he got enough sleep then. But I know it's worse with his sinus problems. He's always congested, esp in the spring. I got him to use a netti pot to flush out his sinuses. And it's helped a lot. He has an easier time waking to the alarm (and me shaking him). But at least I got him to turn the alarm down so I'm not flying out of bed holding my heart in my hands any more. I'm such a light sleeper!
I'm guessing your kids are in high school from the bed time. I had the hardest time falling asleep myself. And most of the time I couldn't till 2am. Would they drink camomile tea?
Here are 2 articles on teens & sleep.
Oh and I had to walk a mile school if I missed the bus. And got in trouble if I was late too.
Good Luck! A. H
http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/rhythmdisorders/a/bioc...
http://family.go.com/parenting/article-sk-186929-help-tee...
