5 Tips for Getting Kids Out of Bed

These 5 tips with help your kids and the whole family get a jump start in the morning

The magic of the holidays is wearing off and the reality of the New Year and going back to school is sinking in. With New Year’s comes new goals and resolutions and perhaps one of yours is helping to create a new habit to get your kids up and out of bed in the morning. But it is not something that can be done….overnight. Want to make the transition as smooth as possible? Follow these five tips.

1. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute.

It takes about a week to easily go from sleeping in late to waking up bright and early. Start by gradually moving your child’s wake-up time earlier in 15-minute or 30-minute increments each night, depending on how much shifting needs to happen. And while you’re figuring out bedtimes, make sure that your kids are getting the right amount of sleep each night (for instance, kids between the ages of six and 13 need nine to 11 hours of slumber a night).

2. Create a Cut-off Time for Tech.

Your kids may love their phone or video games, but at nighttime, anything with a screen should be off limits—especially in the bedroom. That’s because staring at an electronic screen late at night makes it tough to get to sleep, because it emits a stimulating blue light. In fact, it isn’t a bad idea to make this a house rule and follow it yourself, since you’ll also benefit by falling asleep easier. Start a new tradition like reading a book in bed together. It can help relax you and fall asleep. Older kids can even practice their reading.

3. Prep as Much as You Can the Night Before.

Mornings are hectic enough as it is, so pick out your child’s clothes, prepare lunch, and pack his school bag before you go to bed. Have everything ready in the morning so all they have to do is the essentials in the morning. This will help make your mornings less stressful too. Don’t feel like mom and dad have to do all the work here. Teach the kids how to make or pack their own lunches and snacks. Or teach them how to get dressed themselves in the morning.

4. Try a New Alarm Clock.

This is good for teens, especially, who may be tempted to keep hitting snooze all morning long. Go with one that plays their favorite upbeat music, one that rolls around on the ground for them to find, or even a wearable wristband that vibrates to wake them up. Having the alarm clock next to your bed promotes hitting the snooze button. Try putting the alarm clock on a desk or dresser across the room. That way you have to get out of bed to turn it off, now that you are up, you might as well get ready for the day.

5. Don’t Let Weekends Derail You.

Once you’ve gotten your kids onto a good sleep schedule Monday through Friday, don’t let them sleep in until 10:00am on the weekends. It will throw them out of whack by the time Sunday comes around. Encourage your children to stay as close as they can to their weekday routines and everyone will be happier and more alert.

Source: Sleep.org

This blog does not provide medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on Mattressdepotusa.com. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.