how do you get your 9yr child to go to sleep early for school, to be ready for school?
152791
You must have a set schedule that you stick with all the time.  About an hour before bedtime, remind him that bedtime is in an hour.  You might try a bedtime routine, like reading a chapter out of a book every night after he has brushed his teeth and got into bed.  Sticking with a routine subconsciously prepares a person for sleep.
518935
My suggestion is to make lists, so you can cross off things when you do them. If it has to be so simple that you write down get up at 9, do that! Try very hard not to vary the times you go to bed and get up. Most articles I have read in the health magazines say that a consistent bedtime and wake up time are the most helpful. And don't vary it on the weekends!!! \n\nAs far as motivation, set goals. I will do 3 new things a day just for me. And if you are in to it, write down what you did and how it felt, if you would do it again, or not. Try something you have always wanted to do but "thought you were too busy."  \n\nAnother good solution is FLYLADY.com. She breaks things up into workable parts. Try that.
262713
Some kids do it uuntil they are 16 or so\n\nlimit fluids after 7 pm\n\nmake him pee before bed\n\nwkae him after 3-4 hours of sleep to train him to wake himself during the night
13535
Tell your children to not drink and fluids before bed, pee before bed, try not to eat liquidy food before bed. And make sure thw way to the bathroom is well lit. They might get scared if it's dark.
1125506
Here's a wonderful website with some great ideas to try to get your Autistic child into a bedtime routine that he won't resist so strongly:\n\nhttp://groups.msn.com/TheAutismHomePage/sleep.msnw\n\nhttp://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=367&a=3376\n\nBe patient, follow the set routine you establish after reading the above sites and talking with the family about what will work for you as a team, and stay strong!
493274
The most important thing you can do is to get up 15-30 minutes a day earlier than normal, and take that brief time for yourself every day to reflect and plan your day out. This may take some of the urgency out of your daily tasks.\n\nReduce caffeine intake; while it may wake you up, it's a false and fleeting source of energy. Eat as well as you can, and take at least 1 hour per week to do something small you enjoy.\n\nYou didn't mention the age of your child/children. They're demanding little creatures at any age, but know this. Single parent or not, don't let guilt feelings allow you to neglect YOURSELF. An overworked stressed-out mom can hinder the effectiveness of child-rearing. Cherish the small things, and pick your battles.
1160678
Make sure his room has darkening roller shades as the early morning sunlight probably wakes him up.  Yes it's a challenge all right and it's very tiring.  Make sure you take naps and have lie down for a quiet time or sleep as you need it for your sanity.  Also watch what you're giving him to eat as it gets around supper time.  No chocolate or sweetened snacks.  Just sips of water or milk is best.  Give a bath to wind him down.  Keep the house quiet and try to relax yourself.
29606
dont get him out of bed, it's plain and simple, see, he shouldn't have to depend on you to wake him up, he should do it himself...so just dont wake him up a few times, let him be late, and hopefully he'll learn to get up on his own and let you get some extra ZZZzzz's
742225
First of all, as a Long Term Single Parent, let me give you a few hints:\n\n1.  Put the TV on a timer -- and Keep the control with you.  I used the Parental Controls built into my unit, and that was a way I LIMITED the amount of time that they had in front of the boob tube (and locked the Video Games in a Locking Cabinet -- I had the only key -- and once a week -- for an hour, they could choose which game to play -- but it had to be that they played together quietly -- after that .. the games went back into the cabinet).\n\nEach afternoon/evening is scheduled -- from the time they come home after school to bedtime.  I also made it clear that they would participate in certain activities -- like Scouting, an After School Program, and an Athletics Event/Program each season.  \n\nWhen they fought -- it was time out.  NOTHING -- no TV, no radio, no games, just do your homework or read a book -- and you had to be within sight of me while I was fixing the meal.\n\nEven small children can help with the chores -- list them out on a weekly schedule -- put the child's name next to a chore (and be sure to rotate them through all chores) and tell them you will check when they say they are finished -- and DO check -- and make them re-do if it is not the way that you know they can do it.\n\nHomework Time -- same time every day.  At least an hour to make sure that their homework is done -- and they would have to check off their assignments that were listed in their daily planners.\n\nIF fighting while out in public -- I would tell them and start walking to the Car right away.  We would NOT stay out and enjoy an activity or event IF they could NOT behave.  (and my children were disabled!)\n\nMake sure that you are WELL organized in the home.  Even the small children can put away their own clothes, or help you by learning how to fold laundry.\n\nSame with taking out the trash.  It is an easy job, and they can do it from an early age.
994580
Let them sleep....the body has it's own clock and will wake your son when it needs food. Forced feeding will only lead to obesity. Make sure that he has food available. I mean, don't punish him by making him wait if he has slept through a meal. You might look into the possibility that he has "night owl syndrome". My son does and if I had known there was such a thing during his school years he probably would not have had to deal with the taunting from his teachers and classmates. If you are concerned about his health, maybe it is time for a trip to the doctor.
949862
You need a regular routine, with two aims a) to get you to wake up at the right time b) to get you up and out the house in time to get to work.\n\nTry the following:\nAt night:\n* go to bed at the same time every night. \n* only you know how much sleep you need, but go to bed early enough to get enough sleep\n* you will get better quality sleep if the room is not too hot or cold and has enough humidity, and if you get enough exercise and fresh air during the day.\n* eat at least an hour before bedtime so you don't get indigestion, and don't take any alcohol or caffeine in the hour before bed either\n* after eating, prepare for tomorrow, make sure you have your clothes, papers, etc ready. Check the weather forecast, so you have the right coat, umbrella, gloves, etc ready. Make sure you have your keys/season ticket/work pass'lunch money all ready. This will save you time and stress in the morning.\n* after you have got ready for tomorrow, wind down. Listen to relaxing music, have a hot drink, hot bath, whatever. Put away the screens and read or do a puzzle instead. \n\nIn the morning\n* time how long you need to wash, dress, breakfast \n* then set your alarms for at least15 minutes before you think you need to wake up\n* the art of being a good riser is to get out of bed as soon as you wake up. Don't lie there thinking 'just 5 minutes more....'\n* assuming you don't sleep in the nude, ask your Mum to pull off the duvet, right off the bed. Works every time - and helps air your bed for the next night. \n* wash and dress straight away. Don't hang around eating breakfast in your dressing gown, that's a sure timekiller. You will feel more ready to go if you are dressed.\n* think about what delays you in the morning and fix it. Iron your shirt and make your sandwiches the night before. Get headphones and listen to the news on the way, rather than waiting for the headlines. Check your email when you get to work. Post letters at lunchtime. \n* use lunchtimes to get your personal jobs done eg buying birthday cards, paying bills, pickup dry cleaning; you will get fresh air away from office, which will help you sleep, and it will give you more time in the evening.\n* if you are not a 'morning' person, make it easy for yourself by getting things ready the night before so all you have to do is get  up and go.\n\nGood luck
1089360
Pre-school is about play, naps and socialising. They are all so under staffed that I advocate home schooling.
27114
I think it is most often the best to start school as late as possible.  Kids grow up fast enough as it is.  Give them as much time as possible to be a kid.  If it doesn't work out it is pretty easy to bump a kid up a grade.  It is difficult to hold a child back for any reason.
944185
Try this:\nThe idea is to tone down mind and body activities hours before sleep so you will get to sleep easier...\nSome useful steps:\n1. Drink less coffee, tea or any other drinks that contain caffeine, especially after later part of afternoon.\n2. Try going to bed at the same time every night.\n3. Avoid alcoholic drinks after evening time as alcoholic drinks may cause early morning wakefulness and may wake you up after your sleep.\n4. Ensure your sleeping environment is suitable for sleeping (not too noisy, not too bright, not too cold, bed not uncomfortable)\n5. Avoid heavy meals hours prior to sleep.\n6. Stop all mind-stimulating activities 1 hour before going to bed (activities like reading research papers, reading mystery solving books, doing your school work, solving a complicated Maths question, watching your computer, watching TV, etc)\n7. Half an hour before bed, take a warm bath. Then drink a cup of WARM milk.\n8. As you lie on bed, take a deep breath and as you breath out, slowly, imagine you have abandoned your body. Imagine that your body slowly 'sinks' into your bed and become 'blended' into the bed. As you are imagining, take another deep breath and count 1. * As you breath out, slowly, now imagine your body is like water ripples spreading out, slowly. Take deep breath again and count 2 and repeat the process (from the place i marked with a *). Start counting from 1 again when you reach 9 or any number you prefer...\nHope this help. Email me if you have queries.
1133690
Try to keep the same sleep/wake schedule.\nDo not exercise before bedtime.\nKeep the room cool.\nDon't eat at least three hours before bed time.\nAlcohol inhibits sleep as well as caffeine.
403769
U have to start a consistant pattern. Start by every morning when the kid wakes up take her right to the potty so they can get used to a routine. Take her to the bathroom with you when you go. When she does use the potty, praise her..u know like (Yay...u pee-pee'd in the potty! youre a big girl now!). Express disappointment when she wets herself or has a bm in her pull-up, and make sure you tell her that she is supposed to use the potty for that. Also have patience.
115158
Get them up early the next day.  They'll go to bed on time that night.